13 Takeaways from Cavs 132-126 win over Raptors: James Harden changes everything

Apr 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) is introduced before the game between the Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors in game one in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images CLEVELAND — White dress shirt, white sports jacket, white bowtie, white three-quarter-length dress shorts, white socks, and a pair of his own signature basketball shoes. Whether or not they were the same pair James Harden wore 45 minutes earlier during the Cleveland Cavaliers ’ 126-113 Game 1 win over the Toronto Raptors is unknown.

What we do know is that it takes a certain kind of superstar to have the confidence to make an outfit like this work on an overcast and rainy Cleveland spring day. And Harden is exactly that kind of star. The kind that the Cavs have needed in their last few postseason runs.

Being able to dictate the terms of a series doesn’t mean that you’ll win it . It does, however, force the other team to beat you at your own game. The Cavs were able to do that in Game 1.

They kept the Raptors from running in the open court and forced them to outscore them in the half-court. And you have to be well oiled machine in the half-court if you’re going to beat a Harden-led team that way. The Raptors are not.