The Toronto Raptors faced another setback in their playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, losing Game 2 by a score of 115-105 on April 20, 2026, as seen in a trending post on r/nba. The Raptors now find themselves in a deep hole, down 0-2 in the best-of-seven series.
Why it matters: The Raptors needed to capitalize on their improved play in Game 2 but failed due to turnovers and poor shooting from key players. This loss puts them in a precarious position as they head back to Toronto for Game 3.
Brandon Ingram struggled significantly, scoring only 5 points on 3-of-15 shooting, with 5 turnovers, marking one of his worst performances of the season.
The Raptors' 22 turnovers led to 22 points for the Cavaliers, underscoring a major issue that has plagued them throughout the series.
Toronto is now 1-9 in playoff series where they have fallen behind 2-0, making their chances of advancing extremely slim.
Driving the news: The Raptors entered Game 2 looking to even the series after a disappointing performance in Game 1. They showed improvement in certain areas but were unable to secure a win.
Scottie Barnes led the Raptors with 26 points, demonstrating resilience after a slow start, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Cavaliers' strong offense.
Donovan Mitchell and James Harden were instrumental for Cleveland, scoring 30 and 28 points, respectively, with Mitchell committing only one turnover.
The Cavaliers extended their playoff winning streak against the Raptors to 12 games, tying the NBA record for consecutive playoff victories against a single opponent.
State of play: The Raptors' inability to maintain possession was a recurring theme in Game 2, with many turnovers stemming from rushed decisions and lack of focus.
Head coach Darko Rajakovic opted to keep the same starting lineup that struggled in Game 1, a decision that backfired as the team continued to falter defensively.
Jakob Poeltl was benched for the entire second half, a surprising move after he had been a key player earlier in the season.
Toronto's bench outperformed Cleveland's, scoring 45 points compared to the Cavaliers' 17, highlighting the depth of the Raptors' roster.
The big picture: The Raptors must regroup quickly as they prepare for Game 3 on Thursday, where they will need to address their turnover issues and rely on their home-court advantage.
Ingram's performance will be under scrutiny as he seeks to bounce back from this low point in his playoff career.
Historically, teams that have lost the first two games of a playoff series have a challenging path ahead, making it imperative for Toronto to win Game 3.
With their playoff hopes hanging in the balance, the Raptors now face a must-win situation at home to stay alive in the postseason.
What they're saying: Fans and analysts alike are questioning the Raptors' strategy and decision-making in high-pressure situations.
One commenter noted that Toronto's casual approach to ball handling was unacceptable for playoff basketball.
Others expressed frustration over the coaching decisions, particularly the lack of adjustments after Game 1.
"You won't win many games if your star player takes only nine shots," Ingram lamented, indicating a need for more involvement in the offense.
By the numbers: The Raptors' struggles are evident in the stats from Game 2.
Toronto recorded a season-high 22 turnovers, which directly contributed to their defeat.
Ingram's shooting percentage of 20% marked a stark decline from his regular-season performance.
Cleveland's Mitchell now ranks sixth all-time in playoff points per game at 28.4, placing him among legends like Michael Jordan and Kevin Durant.
What's next: The Raptors return to Toronto for Game 3 on April 22, 2026, where they will look to turn the series around.
Rajakovic will need to make strategic changes to the lineup and address the turnover issue if they hope to avoid elimination.
Fans are hopeful that playing at home will rejuvenate the team and help them reclaim momentum in the series.
The Raptors must also focus on improving their defense and limiting Cleveland's scoring opportunities to have a chance at victory.
This article is grounded in a discussion trending on Reddit. Claims from the original post and comments may not be independently verified.