A first for radio man, Barkley backpedals: How ESPN did with Raptors-Cleveland Game 5 coverage
By Marc Bona
Published on April 30, 2026.
The series between the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers ended at two games apiece in Game 5 of the first-round playoff series, with Cleveland winning 125-120. The game was ESPN's second game of the series, featuring a high-scoring affair that featured a clear, clear graphics and pace. The series returned to Cleveland as a best-of-three after the first two games were won in Toronto. The coverage was largely praised for its clear presentation and pace, with play-by-play and analysis from Marc Kestecher and P.J. Carlesimo. Cleveland was an 8.5-point favorite in the over-under of 215.5. The Raptors are now 0-10 in playoff games in Cleveland, marking a 0-0-10 record in the league.
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