RJ Barrett went head-to-head with Tyrese Haliburton, and Haliburton certainly took notice.
In a thrilling Game 6 on Friday night, the Toronto Raptors faced off against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The match had all the tension you’d expect, with Toronto narrowly leading 110-109 as the clock wound down.
Scottie Barnes attempted to drive past Dean Wade but spotted Evan Mobley closing in on him. He then passed the ball to Barrett, who was positioned near the top of the arc. With a quick shot—maybe a bit on the risky side, honestly—Barrett managed to sink it just as the time ticked to 1.2 seconds. That shot clinched a 112-110 victory for Toronto.
It was oddly reminiscent of Haliburton’s game-tying shot in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks.
“That looked familiar,” Haliburton tweeted later that evening.
Earlier in the scene, the Pacers had their own dramatic moment. Haliburton thought he had secured a 3-pointer to win, but it resulted in a tie at 125, sending the game into overtime.
The Pacers triumphed over the Knicks, 138-135, which propelled them into the NBA Finals. Sadly, Haliburton’s journey took a turn when he suffered an Achilles tear during the final series against the Thunder.
Cleveland had the opportunity to take the series but couldn’t capitalize on their last possession. Evan Mobley’s attempt for a winning 3-pointer missed, allowing the Raptors to equalize the series at 3-3 and set up a decisive Game 7.
That upcoming showdown will see the Raptors face off against the winner of another Game 7 between the Pistons and Magic happening on the same day.
Meanwhile, the Magic, who had been leading the series at 3-2, faced a shocking collapse against the Pistons, missing a staggering 23 shots in a row and only managing just 19 points in the second half of the game, resulting in a 93-79 loss.
In Toronto’s thrilling win, Barrett, as the standout scorer for his team, netted 24 points, including four three-pointers and secured nine rebounds. Scottie Barnes also contributed significantly with 25 points, and Jacoby Walter, who subbed in for the injured Brandon Ingram, added another 24 points, proving pivotal for the No. 5 seed Raptors.
