Cleveland posted a 116.0 offensive rating to Toronto's 96.7. The +27 rebound margin (60-33) translated directly into 23 second-chance points against Toronto's seven. Allen owned the glass with 19 boards and eight offensive rebounds, becoming the first player since Nikola Jokić in 2020 to register 20+ points, 15+ rebounds, and 3+ blocks in a Game 7, per CrunchSports.
The third quarter erased a 53-53 halftime tie. Cleveland closed the second on an 11-2 run, then opened the third with an 11-1 burst, building a 19-point lead Toronto never threatened. Donovan Mitchell scored 15 of his 22 in the second half. James Harden added 18 points on 11/13 from the line. Bench scoring went 34 for Cleveland to 19 for Toronto — a +15 gap, with Sam Merrill (13 points, 3/7 from three) the swing piece. RJ Barrett led Toronto with 23 on 9/25 (36.0%); Scottie Barnes posted 24 on 8/14.
Victim: Toronto's rebounding profile. The Raptors gave up 20 offensive boards and a 23-7 second-chance points gap. RJ Barrett's 25-attempt volume could not absorb the cumulative cost.
Beneficiary: Cleveland's bracket leverage. Allen's two-way Game 7 sets up a center-on-center matchup against Detroit's frontcourt — exactly the matchup the Cavaliers want in a series where rebounding margin will carry the East semifinal.
Bracket shift: Cleveland advances to the Eastern Conference Semifinals as the No. 4 seed against the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons. SportRadar Game 1 win probability: DET 57.6%, CLE 42.4%. Bravsen model: CLE series win probability 39% (basis: rebounding edge, Allen post advantage, DET home-court margin, Mitchell volume risk on the road).
Next Trigger: Game 1, Tue May 5, 7:00 PM ET, Little Caesars Arena. If Allen replicates a 15+ rebound game on Detroit's interior, the Pistons' pace advantage compresses fast.
Next: Game 1 ECSF Tue May 5 7:00 PM ET at Little Caesars Arena