Harden, Mitchell Lead Cavs to Game 1 Rout of Raptors

Star guards combine for 54 points in dominant playoff win

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:25pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the action of a basketball game, with overlapping planes of color and shape representing the players and movement on the court.The Cavaliers' dynamic backcourt duo of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell led the team to a dominant Game 1 victory over the Raptors, igniting hopes of an NBA Finals run.Cleveland Today

The Cleveland Cavaliers opened their first-round playoff series against the Toronto Raptors with a convincing 126-113 victory, led by stellar performances from star guards James Harden and Donovan Mitchell. Harden scored 22 points and dished out 10 assists, while Mitchell poured in a game-high 32 points to power the Cavs' offense.

Why it matters

Harden and Mitchell's impressive showing in Game 1 has Cavs fans dreaming of an NBA Finals appearance, as the team's star duo proved they can lead the team deep into the playoffs. The Cavaliers entered the series as the No. 4 seed, but with their dynamic backcourt duo firing on all cylinders, they look primed for a long postseason run.

The details

In addition to Harden and Mitchell's offensive exploits, the Cavaliers also received key contributions from the rest of the roster. Max Strus scored 24 points off the bench, Evan Mobley added 17 points, and Jarrett Allen chipped in 10 points. The Cavs broke the game open in the second quarter, outscoring the Raptors 36-22 to take control of the contest.

  • The Cavaliers and Raptors played Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Saturday, April 15, 2026.
  • Game 2 of the series is scheduled for Monday, April 17, 2026.

The players

James Harden

A veteran guard and the Cavaliers' major trade deadline acquisition, Harden scored 22 points and dished out 10 assists in the Game 1 victory.

Donovan Mitchell

The Cavaliers' star guard, Mitchell led all scorers with 32 points on 11-of-20 shooting, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range, in the Game 1 win.

Max Strus

The Cavaliers' reserve guard, Strus provided a much-needed scoring boost off the bench with 24 points in the Game 1 rout.

Evan Mobley

The Cavaliers' young big man, Mobley contributed 17 points to the Game 1 victory.

Jarrett Allen

The Cavaliers' starting center, Allen added 10 points in the Game 1 win.

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What they’re saying

“When James and Donovan are playing like that, we're a tough team to beat. They set the tone for us and the rest of the guys followed their lead.”

— Evan Mobley, Cavaliers Forward

What’s next

The Cavaliers and Raptors will face off in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series on Monday, April 17, 2026.

The takeaway

The Cavaliers' dominant Game 1 performance, led by the dynamic duo of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell, has Cavs fans dreaming of an NBA Finals appearance. If Harden and Mitchell can maintain this level of play throughout the playoffs, Cleveland could make a deep postseason run and potentially capture the franchise's first championship since 2016.