The Cleveland Cavaliers have developed a painful habit in the playoffs—finding new ways to fall apart when it matters most. This time, it was RJ Barrett delivering the dagger, sinking a game-winning three-pointer that seemed to hang in the air forever before dropping through the net with just over a second left. That shot turned what could have been a 110-109 Cavs victory into a 112-110 loss, keeping the Toronto Raptors' season alive.

As remarkable as Barrett's shot was, he never should have had the chance to take it. The Cavs were clinging to a one-point lead with 11 seconds remaining. Head coach Kenny Atkinson made a curious decision, substituting Game 5 hero Dennis Schroder for the crucial possession and opting to inbound from the backcourt. Schroder initially broke Toronto's pressure and drove into the front court, but then made a head-scratching pass to Evan Mobley—the worst free-throw shooter on the floor—when the Raptors were clearly going to foul. Even worse, Mobley let the ball get poked out of his hands, handing Toronto the opportunity they needed.

If that costly mistake doesn't happen, Barrett's shot might never have mattered. But blaming this collapse on a single play doesn't tell the full story. The Cavs lost this game long before the final seconds. For three quarters, they sleepwalked through a closeout playoff game against a Raptors team missing their starting point guard and leading scorer. The energy was flat, the offense was disjointed, and their stars failed to rise to the occasion.

Toronto seized the opportunity, jumping out to a 10-point lead at halftime and extending it to 15 midway through the third quarter. The Cavs mounted a furious comeback, but in the end, it was too little, too late. Another playoff collapse. Another heartbreaking loss. For a team that's become all too familiar with these moments, the script may have changed, but the ending remains painfully the same.