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Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson credited “mental toughness” and late-game execution after his team’s 125-120 comeback win over the Toronto Raptors in Game 5 of their first-round series on Wednesday in Cleveland.
Atkinson emphasized the turning point early in the fourth quarter. “I think this is a step for us from a mental toughness point of view. It was not pretty. We go down 12, the crowd’s nervous, everybody’s nervous,” he said.
The Cavaliers responded with an 8-0 start to the final period, flipping a three-point deficit into control of the game.
Atkinson pointed to Dennis Schroder’s impact as a stabilizing force. “Dennis’s ball handling helps. Having another ball handler out there helped,” he said. “I think that was part of it.”
Schröder finished with 19 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, and helped Cleveland manage Toronto’s pressure defense.
The coach also highlighted improved spacing and screening as structural adjustments. “I thought our screening was better. You got to screen these elite defenders off our ball handlers,” Atkinson said.
Donovan Mitchell and James Harden were frequently targeted by Toronto’s pressure, and Atkinson noted the benefit of additional playmaking options. “Dennis being out there as a second or third ball handler helped,” he said.
Cleveland also committed 15 turnovers that led to 28 points for Toronto, a point of concern for Atkinson. “We still haven’t figured out a way to clean that up,” he said. “If we’re going to win on the road, we got to find a way.”
Despite the turnover issue, Atkinson praised the Cavaliers’ response to adversity. “We showed really good poise and resiliency when you could have let your guard down,” he said.
Evan Mobley’s late scoring also drew emphasis from the coach after the big man delivered 23 points, including two crucial three-pointers. “Those threes were really timely,” Atkinson said. “He was more forceful tonight in general.”
Defensively, Cleveland’s fourth-quarter identity centered on rebounding and limiting second chances. “I think limited them to one shot,” Atkinson said. “That was the biggest key defensively.”
The Cavaliers also overcame multiple momentum swings, including Toronto’s 74-67 halftime lead and a brief fourth-quarter push that cut the margin to three points.
Atkinson said the team’s composure during those stretches stood out. “We didn’t rattle,” he said. “We got over the hump.”
The coach also referenced lineup flexibility late in the game, when a unit featuring Schröder remained on the floor during a key stretch. “That shows Donovan. He’s so selfless,” Atkinson said.
With Cleveland now holding a 3-2 series lead, Atkinson framed the focus as a possession battle heading into Game 6. “It really comes down to that,” he said. “Are we going to win the scrums? Are we going to win the rebounds? Take care of the ball.”
Game 6 shifts to Toronto, where Cleveland has struggled with a minus-21 possession margin across two road games in the series.
Atkinson summarized the challenge ahead in simple terms. “If we get more shots than them, we have a good chance,” he said. “Otherwise, we’ll be back here for Game 7.”
