Cavaliers Defeat Raptors in Game 1 Playoff Opener

Donovan Mitchell leads Cleveland to victory in first-round series

Apr. 18, 2026 at 11:09pm

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The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Toronto Raptors 126-113 in Game 1 of their first-round NBA playoff series. Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell scored a game-high 32 points, while Max Strus added 24 points off the bench for Cleveland.

Why it matters

This victory gives the Cavaliers home-court advantage in the best-of-seven series as they look to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Raptors, who finished the regular season with a 48-34 record, will need to regroup quickly to avoid falling into an early hole.

The details

Mitchell led the way for the Cavaliers, shooting 10-of-19 from the field and 6-of-8 from the free-throw line. Strus provided a big boost off the bench, knocking down 6 three-pointers. The Raptors were led by Pascal Siakam's 26 points, but they struggled to contain Cleveland's offensive attack.

  • The game was played on April 18, 2026.

The players

Donovan Mitchell

The star guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers, averaging over 28 points per game during the regular season.

Max Strus

A key bench player for the Cavaliers, providing a scoring punch off the bench in Game 1.

Pascal Siakam

The leading scorer for the Toronto Raptors, who had 26 points in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“We came out with a lot of energy and focus tonight. Donovan set the tone early, and our bench players stepped up big time.”

— J.B. Bickerstaff, Cavaliers Head Coach

“We didn't execute our game plan well enough. We need to make some adjustments and come out with more intensity in Game 2.”

— Nick Nurse, Raptors Head Coach

What’s next

Game 2 of the series will be played in Cleveland on April 20, 2026.

The takeaway

The Cavaliers showed their offensive firepower in Game 1, led by Donovan Mitchell and a strong performance from their bench. The Raptors will need to make some adjustments to slow down Cleveland's attack if they hope to even the series in Game 2.