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Cavs’ James Harden shuts down talk about Game 5 scuffles with Raptors

James Harden downplays Game 5 altercations, leads Cavs to series win.

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Editorial Team
April 30, 2026
1 min read
James Harden, 36, faced altercations with Toronto Raptors players Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett during Game 5 of the Cavaliers' first-round playoff series against the Raptors at Rocket Arena. Harden described the incidents as "nothing" and avoided calling them "scuffles." No technical fouls were called. He finished with 23 points (4 three-pointers), 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals, though he was limited to 9 points in the last three quarters. Evan Mobley, Donovan Mitchell, and Dennis Schroder contributed significantly to Cleveland’s scoring. Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson praised their defensive performance, holding the Raptors to 7-of-28 shooting in the fourth quarter. Harden will advance to the second round for the 11th time in his career, with Game 6 scheduled for Friday at Scotiabank Arena.

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