Barnes, Ingram score 23 points apiece as Raptors beat Cavaliers 93-89 and tie series at 2-all

TORONTO (AP) — Scottie Barnes hit the go-ahead free throws in the final minute and finished with 23 points, Brandon Ingram also scored 23 and the Toronto Raptors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 93-89 on Sunday, tying the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series at two games apiece.

The best-of-seven series shifts to Cleveland for Game 5 on Wednesday.

“Now it’s a best of three,” Cavaliers guard James Harden said.

RJ Barrett scored 18 points and Collin Murray-Boyles had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Raptors, who won despite shooting 4 for 30 from 3-point range.

“We’re just trying to go out there and win, take it one possession at a time,” Barnes said. “That’s all we’re focussing on.”

Barnes had nine rebounds and six assists as Toronto won back-to-back postseason games for the first time since a first-round loss to Philadelphia in 2022.

“We just never, never flinched,” Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said. “We continued guarding and guarding.”

Donovan Mitchell scored 12 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and Harden added 19, but the Cavaliers couldn’t overcome an 18-turnover performance.

“There’s no doubt they’ve had the physicality advantage, the energy advantage these last two games,” Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said of Toronto. “Usually happens with the home team, gets that bump. We’ve got to turn it back around. That’s how the playoffs go.”

Mitchell missed two shots in the final 25 seconds, including a 3-pointer that would have tied the game. He finished 6 for 24 overall and made 4 of 12 shots from deep.

“I got some open looks tonight and they just didn’t fall,” Mitchell said.

Sam Merrill scored 14 points and Jarrett Allen had 15 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who were outscored 10-2 in the final 1:54 of the fourth.

“We had an opportunity tonight to win the game,” Harden said. “We’re definitely confident about where we are.”

After Barrett’s driving shot cut the deficit to 87-86 with 49 seconds left in the fourth, Mitchell couldn’t get the ball across half court in time, giving possession to Toronto.

“I made a mistake in a crucial moment,” Mitchell said.

Barnes was fouled as he drove to the basket and made both, giving the Raptors an 88-87 lead with 34 seconds left.

With NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in attendance, both teams struggled from 3-point range. Cleveland finished 10 for 40 from deep, including 5 of 10 in the fourth.

The Raptors missed 14 consecutive 3-point attempts to open the game before Barrett connected with 8:31 left in the first half.

Ingram missed nine of his first 10 attempts but finished the half by making three straight, including a buzzer-beating 3 that gave Toronto a 38-36 lead at the intermission.

Harden had more turnovers (six) than made baskets (four) in the opening half, while Mitchell shot 3 for 15 through three quarters.

“Our defense gave us a chance,” Mitchell said. “Offensively, I wasn’t great. We weren’t hitting shots but our defense was solid. We can build on that and continue to hang our hat there and the offense will come around.”

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Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) tries to move around Toronto Raptors guard Ja'kobe Walter, right, during the first half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series in Toronto, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles (12) dunks as Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) watches during the first half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series in Toronto, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) tries to get around Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes, right, during the first half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series in Toronto, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Fans react after Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram, front, made a 3-point basket in the final minutes of the first half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Toronto, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) reacts after making a basket as Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) looks on during the first half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series in Toronto, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

CHICAGO (AP) — The Washington Nationals placed right-handed reliever Clayton Beeter on the 15-day injured list with right forearm soreness before their 2-1 win in a series finale against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

The move is retroactive to April 23.

Washington recalled right-handers Paxton Schultz and Andre Granillo from Triple-A Rochester in corresponding moves. Schultz went on to record his first career save.

Following Saturday’s 6-3 win at Chicago in 10 innings, the Nationals had returned infielder/designated hitter Andrés Chaparro to Rochester.

Beeter is 1-0 with a 3.48 ERA and two saves in 10 1/3 innings over 10 games this season. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound 27-year-old, in his third major league season, was traded to the Nationals by the New York Yankees last July in a deal that sent infielder Amed Rosario to New York.

Nationals manager Blake Butera said Beeter would undergo imaging on Sunday.

“Just an abundance of caution putting him on the IL,” Butera said. “We’ll get this sorted out.

“It’s (the arm) just been cranky for a little bit now. I don’t think it’s anything we’re overly concerned with at this point, but we want to get some imaging done just to make sure.”

Beeter last pitched on Tuesday against Atlanta, tossing a scoreless ninth when he allowed a hit and struck out two to complete an 11-4 Washington win.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Washington Nationals pitcher Clayton Beeter throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)