Raptors star RJ Barrett praises Toronto fans after big playoff win
The Toronto Raptors finally have a playoff win and the players say the hometown fans deserve a lot of the credit.
RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes both recorded playoff career-highs, scoring 33 points each to power the Raptors to a 126-104 Game 3 victory over James Harden and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
RJ BARRETT FOR 33.
A NEW POSTSEASON CAREER-HIGH IN POINTS 🚨 pic.twitter.com/E5v0p9jiyZ — NBA (@NBA) April 24, 2026
Before the first-round series against the Cavs began, Barrett said the thing he was most looking forward to was experiencing playoff basketball in Toronto. Safe to say the Toronto native's first taste of playoff basketball in his hometown lived up to the hype.
"The energy in the building was crazy. Definitely helped us out a lot," Barrett said post-game.
He described his team as a "tough, resilient group."
"We're gonna fight," he added.
The Raptors looked like a different team than the one that was beaten rather easily in Cleveland.
"The energy from the crowd was really huge for us tonight," said Barrett in the post-game press conference. "It's great to see so many people support us."
Barrett was very effective in Game 3 on both sides of the ball, and the stats reflected that. Raptors forward Brandon Ingram continued to struggle offensively, but Barrett stepped up, shooting 12-for-19 with five assists and five rebounds.
Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković said post-game that Barrett was working overtime in the 48 hours ahead of Game 3. Rajaković mentioned Barrett spent extra time "watching film and in the training room" to try to put himself and the team in a position to succeed.
As fans chanted Barrett's name while he walked off the court, he went out of his way to acknowledge Toronto Blue Jays All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who was sitting courtside.
"Man, Vlad has done so much for this city," Barrett told reporters. "I respect what he does for the city and country."
RJ Barrett spots Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr, and two embrace one another after the huge Game 3 victory.
Toronto sports brotherhood. ❤️🫂🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/g6zGmpqCOZ — Omer Osman (@OmerOsman200) April 24, 2026
Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles, who set a franchise record on Thursday for the most playoff points in a single game by a rookie (22), said he didn't expect the crowd to be as crazy as it was.
"I wouldn't say I underestimated them, but I didn't imagine this," said Murray-Boyles, who was playing his first playoff game at Scotiabank Arena. "It's been loud all season, but tonight was special."
"It couldn't have been any better," said Murray-Boyles. "It pushed us to play a really good game."
The Raptors will have the next two days off before getting a chance to tie the series on Sunday, again at Scotiabank Arena.
Thursday's blowout win was the kind of performance many Raptors fans have been waiting for from this team. It's one that showed they still have a fighting chance in a best-of-seven series.
John E. Sokolowski/Imagn Images
