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Barnes and the Raptors visit Cleveland to begin playoffs

The Toronto Raptors begin their Eastern Conference First Round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday in Cleveland, with Toronto entering as the fifth seed and Cleveland as the fourth.
Toronto swept their regular-season series 3-0 against Cleveland, marking the fourth playoff meeting between the teams with Cleveland winning all three previous series matchups.
Raptors forward Brandon Ingram led Toronto with 21.5 points per game, while defensive leader Scottie Barnes anchors the team against Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell and 2025 Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley.
Toronto head coach Darko Rajakovic emphasized the moment's significance, saying, "They've been playing basketball their whole lives, they've been playing for this big stage," as the team prepares to match Cleveland's physicality.
Neither Ingram nor Barnes have won an NBA playoff series, with previous exits against the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, and Oklahoma City Thunder fueling their quest for a first postseason victory.

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