Atkinson believes the Cavaliers have taken a significant psychological step by securing a spot in the semifinals.

With scores from Jarrett Allen, Donovan Mitchell, and James Harden, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Toronto Raptors 114-102 at home in the seventh round of the 2025/26 NBA playoffs. In an interview, Atkinson stated that his team has taken a significant step forward in terms of mentality and resilience after this challenging period.

According to the data, Jarrett Allen scored 22 points and had two assists for the Cleveland Cavaliers in this key game, Donovan Mitchell scored 22 points and had one assist, while James Harden contributed 18 points and 3 assists.

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson said, "First of all, I have to praise the Toronto Raptors. Darko Lajakovic and his team did an incredible job. They made things very difficult for us. They are a very good team, and their future is very bright."

“I think it’s more of a mental test. The loss in Toronto was very tough, and we were defeated by the opponent in that way.”

When asked about being behind in the game, Atkinson said, "Part of the reason was nervousness and some mistakes, and the crowd started to get nervous too. I've seen that happen the other way around, and the team can collapse. We were missing shots, and it didn't look good. But I think this series has taken us a step forward mentally and made us more united."

"To be honest, I don't think we played that well, but the playoffs aren't about that; they're about advancing and finding ways to win."

Atkinson continued, "That offensive surge at the end of the first half made us better at halftime, and the communication in the locker room was more positive. Jarrett Allen took us to a higher level, and his performance in the second quarter was the best I've ever seen him play. He was simply incredible in this game."

Additionally, the Cleveland Cavaliers will face the Detroit Pistons in the first game of the semifinals. Atkinson commented, "We need to be tough enough, both mentally and physically, to beat this team, and hopefully this series has prepared us for that."

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