It happened again for the Toronto Raptors.
With seconds remaining in an elimination game, the Raptors gave the ball to their small forward and watched him shoot a game-winning jumper that bounced multiple feet in the air before settling into the basket and setting off the Scotiabank Arena crowd.
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We just described how RJ Barrett beat the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday to force a Game 7, and also how Kawhi Leonard stunned the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2019 Eastern Conference semifinals.
Here’s Barrett:
And here’s Leonard:
It took about four seconds for a multitude of NBA fans to realize how loudly history had just echoed through Canada.
Which was the better shot, though? Let’s do a quick comparison.
In the context of what round the Raptors were in, the 2019 team was a round ahead of where the 2026 team currently is. Point Leonard.
In the context of the series, Leonard made his in a Game 7 and Barrett made his in a Game 6. Leonard.
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In the context of the game, Barrett made his in overtime and Leonard made his in the fourth quarter. Barrett.
The clock? Leonard’s was a true buzzer-beater while Barrett left 1.2 seconds on the clock. Leonard.
The score? the 2019 Raptors were tied while the 2026 team was down a point, needing a basket just to survive the game. Barrett.
The shot location? Barrett made his from well beyond the arc, while Leonard had a foot on the line in the corner. Barrett.
The shot circumstance? Barrett was left open on the perimeter and made his over a late-arriving Evan Mobley, while Leonard made his shot on the run with defenders all over him. Leonard.
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The bounce? Barrett’s clearly went higher, nearly reaching level with the top of the shot clock. Barrett.
The hangtime? Leonard’s didn’t jump as high, but the multiple bounces it took before going in were high drama. Leonard.
Originality? We’ve got to give Leonard some credit for being first. Leonard.
So through that highly scientific process, we’re giving Leonard’s shot the win by a score of 6-4. There’s also the benefit of Leonard’s shot being a bridge for the Raptors to win their first title (we’ll see if this year’s roster does the same). On the other hand, it’s hard to imagine Barrett ever having as awkward a relationship with the Raptors as Leonard does now.
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Obviously, there’s no point to giving either shot the crown. The Raptors will be thankful that either one of them landed; for both to hit is a miracle of Newtonian physics and hope.
This year’s Raptors are now headed to Cleveland for a Game 7 with momentum on their side. That game tips off Sunday at a time TBD.
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