{"id":193741,"date":"2026-05-02T15:58:31","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T19:58:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=193741"},"modified":"2026-05-02T15:58:31","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T19:58:31","slug":"everything-toronto-raptors-must-do-for-a-game-7-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/05\/02\/everything-toronto-raptors-must-do-for-a-game-7-win\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything The Toronto Raptors Must Do For A Game 7 Win"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Toronto Raptors have already done the hard part: survive. After a dramatic 112\u2013110 overtime win in Game 6, capped by a clutch buzzer-beater from RJ Barrett<\/a>, they\u2019ve forced a decisive Game 7 on the road.<\/p>\n

Now comes the real test\u2014closing it out.<\/p>\n

Game 7 is not just another game. It is where adjustments, composure, and execution define everything. The Raptors have shown throughout this series that they can compete, but winning on the road in this environment will require their most complete performance yet.<\/p>\n

Everything The Toronto Raptors Must Do For A Game 7 Win<\/h2>\n

Scottie Barnes Must Keep Being The Engine<\/h3>\n

Everything starts with Scottie Barnes<\/a>. He has been the Raptors\u2019 most complete player all series, and Game 6 was the perfect example: 25 points, 14 assists, and elite two-way impact.<\/p>\n

For Toronto to win Game 7, Barnes doesn\u2019t need to change anything\u2014he needs to stay exactly the same. His ability to control the tempo, create for teammates, and impact the game defensively is what holds everything together. When Barnes is aggressive but composed, the entire offense flows more naturally.<\/p>\n

This is not about asking him to do more. It is about trusting the version of him that has already worked.<\/p>\n

<\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n

RJ Barrett Must Continue As The Second Option<\/h3>\n

Barrett has been one of the defining players of this series. He delivered 24 points and the game-winning shot in Game 6, one of the biggest moments of his career.<\/p>\n

But beyond that shot, it has been his consistency and physical scoring that have elevated Toronto\u2019s offense. Barrett has embraced his role as the second option<\/a> behind Barnes, giving the Raptors a reliable scoring presence when the game slows down. Game 7 will demand the same mindset. He must stay aggressive, attack mismatches, and continue to take big shots without hesitation.<\/p>\n

In these moments, confidence matters as much as skill\u2014and Barrett clearly has both right now.<\/p>\n

Collin Murray-Boyles\u2019 Impact Cannot Drop<\/h3>\n

Collin Murray-Boyles<\/a> has quietly been one of the most important pieces in this series.<\/p>\n

His contributions go beyond scoring. He brings defensive intensity, physicality, and the kind of effort that does not always show up in the box score but directly impacts winning. He fits seamlessly alongside Barnes, helping maintain balance on both ends of the floor.<\/p>\n

In a Game 7, those details matter even more.<\/p>\n

Toronto does not need him to have a breakout offensive game. They need him to maintain the same level of discipline, energy, and defensive presence that has made him so valuable throughout the series.<\/p>\n

Role Players Must Stay Ready<\/h3>\n

One of the biggest reasons Toronto is still alive is its depth.<\/p>\n

Players like Ja’Kobe Walter<\/a>, Jamal Shead<\/a>, and Jamison Battle<\/a> have already had moments where they shifted momentum in this series.<\/p>\n

Game 6 was another example, with Walter delivering a major scoring performance and others stepping up in key situations.<\/p>\n

Game 7 will not be won by stars alone. It will require timely shots, smart decisions, and defensive effort from players across the rotation. These contributions may come in short bursts, but they often decide games like this.<\/p>\n

Fourth Quarter Execution Will Decide The Game<\/h3>\n

If there is one area Toronto must improve, it is closing games<\/a>. In Game 6, the Raptors allowed an 11-point lead to slip away in the fourth quarter. In Game 5, they entered the final period with momentum but were unable to maintain control. These lapses have been a recurring issue.<\/p>\n

Game 7 will punish those mistakes even more.<\/p>\n

Toronto must stay composed late, execute offensively, and avoid the kind of empty possessions that allow the opponent to go on runs. This means better shot selection, stronger decision-making, and maintaining defensive discipline when fatigue sets in.<\/p>\n

The difference between advancing and going home could come down to those final minutes.<\/p>\n

Defense and Composure Must Travel<\/h3>\n

Winning a Game 7 on the road requires more than talent.<\/p>\n

The Raptors have shown they can defend<\/a> at a high level, and that identity must carry over. Strong perimeter defense, controlled physicality, and consistent effort will be critical against a team that will be playing with energy at home.<\/p>\n

At the same time, composure becomes just as important.<\/p>\n

Toronto has already shown resilience throughout the series, especially playing without key pieces like Immanuel Quickley<\/a> and Brandon Ingram<\/a>. That resilience must show again in Game 7, particularly when momentum shifts. There will be pressure. There will be runs. How Toronto responds to those moments will define the outcome.<\/p>\n

The Last Word<\/h3>\n

The formula is already there. If Barnes controls the game, Barrett delivers in key moments, Murray-Boyles maintains his impact, and the role players contribute once again, the Raptors have everything they need to win.<\/p>\n

Game 7 is not about reinventing anything. It is about trusting what has worked\u2014and executing it when it matters most.<\/p>\n

Featured Image: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Toronto Raptors have already done the hard part: survive. After a dramatic 112\u2013110 overtime win in Game 6, capped by a clutch buzzer-beater from RJ Barrett, they\u2019ve forced a decisive Game 7 on the road. Now comes the real test\u2014closing it out. Game 7 is not just another game. It is where adjustments, composure, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5768,"featured_media":193860,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,62,14],"tags":[308,49857,3178,49324,49199,49793,596,1964,3852],"class_list":["post-193741","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-nba","category-raptors","tag-brandon-ingram","tag-collin-murray-boyles","tag-immanuel-quickley","tag-jakobe-walter","tag-jamal-shead","tag-jamison-battle","tag-nba-playoffs","tag-rj-barrett","tag-scottie-barnes"],"modified_by":"Benjamin Yu","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/193741","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5768"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=193741"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/193741\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":193861,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/193741\/revisions\/193861"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/193860"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=193741"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=193741"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=193741"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}