TORONTO – Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic had a transient Serbian vocabulary lesson for Toronto reporters and fans after a 93-89 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Inat, pronounced ee-nut, is an idea beyond grittiness.
“It’s proving everybody unsuitable, despite the whole lot. That’s the state of our team,” said Rajakovic during his post-game news conference. “All of our guys, they’ve a chip on the shoulder.”
“They’re coming each day to to place extreme work in to play for this city. I’d use that word — inat.”
Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes had 23 points apiece because the Raptors withstood a late Cavaliers charge on Sunday to tie up the best-of-seven series 2-2. Game 5 will probably be in Cleveland on Wednesday and Game 6 will probably be back at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena on Friday.
The Raptors pulled off the win despite a woeful shooting performance, making 31 of 97 (32 per cent) field goals and 4 of 30 (13.3 per cent) three-point attempts.
It was the bottom shooting percentage for a winning team in a playoff game because the NBA-ABA merger in 1976.
“It’s the grind and fight that we had, the eye to detail and rebounding the ball, and caring for the ball, all of the stuff that we preach night in and night out that got here out in the sport,” said Rajakovic. “We just never, never flinched. We continued guarding and guarding.
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“I told our guys at halftime that it was awesome that we’re shooting 27 per cent from the sector, 15 per cent from the three-point line, but I used to be lying. I told them that we’re going to shoot higher within the second half, but we didn’t.”
Barnes had nine rebounds and 6 assists. He said that Rajakovic deserved credit for creating such a resilient team identity, but wouldn’t go to this point as to say the Raptors have a chip on their shoulder.
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“We’re just attempting to go on the market and win, take it one possession at a time,” said Barnes. “That’s all we’re specializing in, taking it one possession at a time.
“In the event that they go on the run, how can we go on a run ourselves? What can we do higher? How can we concentrate on keep convalescing every single day? We’re just having fun with that process.”
Ingram had six rebounds and was liable for three of Toronto’s three-pointers. It was arguably his best playoff performance in a Raptors uniform, as he had struggled through the primary three games of the series.
Going into Sunday’s game Ingram averaged 12 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal, shooting 39.4 per cent on field goals and 33.3 per cent on three-pointers. Each of those rates are well below Ingram’s profession marks of 46.9 per cent on field goals and 36.6 per cent on threes.
“All my teammates have been there through ups and downs, telling me to maintain shooting and in the event that they’re open, they tell me to pass it,” said Ingram. “All the knowledge they provide me is sweet information that propels me for the sport.”
R.J. Barrett of Mississauga, Ont., had 18 points and eight rebounds for his hometown team, while rookie centre Collin Murray-Boyles had a double-double off the bench with 15 points and 10 boards.
“(Rebounding) is just something that I do. Something that I’ve been successful with throughout the post-season,” said Murray-Boyles. “Obviously, we’d like that more because the series goes on and as we keep playing these really tough games.
“We want everybody so the things that I do we’d like it times 10.”
Donovan Mitchell had 20 points, including 12 within the fourth quarter, to guide the Cavaliers’ late rally. He had six rebounds and his 4 three-pointers matched Toronto’s entire output from beyond the arc.
James Harden added 19 points with eight assists for the Cavs.
Based on simulations run by Basketball-Reference.com, the Raptors had only a 26.9 per cent likelihood of winning the primary round series. With the best-of-seven series now tied 2-2, Toronto has upended expectations.
Ingram said that he and his teammates know the Cavaliers won’t go quietly.
“We’ve got to expect a fight,” said Ingram. “Back of their territory (for Game 5), their fans are going to be super loud, bringing the energy, and we’ve got to be ready for Donovan Mitchell to bounce back.
“All their guys are going to be ready so we’ve just got to be ready too.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 26, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press