NBA Playoffs: Schröder Suffers First Loss as Cavaliers Fall to Raptors in Game 3
The Cleveland Cavaliers suffered their first setback in the 2026 NBA Playoffs on Thursday night, dropping Game 3 of their first-round series against the Toronto Raptors 126-104 at Scotiabank Arena. The loss snapped Cleveland’s two-game lead in the best-of-seven series, which now stands at 2-1 in favor of the Cavaliers.
Veteran point guard Dennis Schröder, who entered the game as a key rotational piece for the Cavaliers, saw limited action in the defeat. According to official game reports, Schröder played just five minutes, scoring three points on 1-of-2 shooting while grabbing one rebound. His minimal impact came as the Cavaliers struggled to contain Toronto’s offensive explosion in the fourth quarter.
The turning point arrived early in the fourth quarter when the Raptors erupted for a 43-23 run to seize control of the game. Toronto’s backcourt duo of Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett combined for 66 points, with each player finishing with 33 points. Their shooting efficiency proved decisive, as the Raptors made eight of their nine three-point attempts in the final period.
Despite the loss, Cleveland maintains a series lead and looks to regain momentum in Game 4, scheduled for Saturday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. The Cavaliers will aim to reestablish their defensive identity and leverage home-court advantage to push the series to 3-1.
For continued updates on the Cavaliers-Raptors playoff series and all NBA Playoffs action, stay tuned to Archysport.com.
