After that blowout win in Toronto — the Cavs led by as many as 33 and received by 20 in what stands because the Raptors’ worst efficiency of the season — Cleveland has gone on to ascertain themselves as a legit title contender, successful 15 straight video games and shedding solely to the Boston Celtics. Cleveland at present stands alone on prime of the Japanese Convention.
In the meantime, the Raptors spiralled to 2-12 — on the time, the worst document within the NBA — earlier than successful their final two begins at dwelling to return to Cleveland firstly of a four-game highway journey anticipating the chance to show that they don’t seem to be the group that bought smacked on opening night time and that they’ve come a great distance within the weeks since.
“All the time, whenever you play in opposition to an elite group — and Cleveland is an elite group — I’m actually excited,” mentioned Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic earlier than the ball went up. “I really like challenges. I really like seeing our group develop, and tonight is an incredible alternative to go on the market and compete.”
There was even the game-within-the-game intrigue of seeing Raptors all-star Scottie Barnes matchup with Cavs large man Evan Mobley, who was taken third within the 2021 draft by Cleveland, one spot forward of the place the Raptors selected Barnes, who went on to win rookie of the 12 months, with Mobley runnerup.
Their respective seasons have mirrored their respective groups. Mobley bought the higher of Barnes on opening night time — he had 25 factors on 14 pictures and was plus-31 on the night time, whereas Barnes was 3-of-14, struggled with Mobley defending him and was minus-33 for his 26 minutes.
Mobley is properly on his technique to the most effective season of his profession and will likely be an all-defence choice once more. He may even probably be an all-star at this price, as he’s scoring practically 18 factors a recreation on career-best effectivity. Barnes broke his orbital bone within the Raptors’ fourth recreation of the 12 months and was making simply his second begin since.
“Personally, as a fan, I really like seeing these two go up in opposition to one another,” mentioned Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson. “They’re two vibrant, up-and-coming stars within the league, it’s nice to see. They’ve completely different video games, completely different form of profile, however they’re each that hybrid form of 4/wing that may additionally play the 5. Actually, actually attention-grabbing gamers. They’re like the brand new model, hybrid participant: large, robust, can move. It’s going to be a blast watching them go at it.”
On Sunday night time, the Cavs ended up successful the second assembly between the 2 groups, and also you’d have to offer the sting to Mobley within the game-within-the-game additionally, though the Raptors and Barnes have clearly come a great distance. In the long run, the red-hot Cavs proved an excessive amount of for the Raptors as they improved to 17-1 on the season with their 122-108 win, whereas Toronto fell to 4-13 and had their modest two-game successful streak snapped.
The Raptors did push Cleveland this time round. However the Cavs used a 14-3 run within the first 3:30 of the fourth quarter to push what had been a six-point benefit to 17, and the Raptors couldn’t pull inside double figures the remainder of the best way.
The Raptors shot 40.2 per cent from the ground and 12-of-39 from three, whereas Cleveland got here in at 49.5 per cent and 16-of-41 from deep, and that’s with two of their designated deep threats — Georges Niang and Sam Merrill — combining to go 1-of-12 off the bench. Ty Jerome helped fill the hole as he got here off the bench for 26 factors and 5 assists, and he was an issue for the Raptors all night time. Donovan Mitchell additionally had 26 for the Cavs.
Mobley completed with 14 factors, 11 rebounds and 4 assists on 6-of-11 taking pictures. Barnes managed 18 factors to guide the Raptors however was 5-of-14 from the ground and 1-of-6 from three. Barnes’ solely triple got here late within the fourth quarter, and he flexed and yelled to the group to have fun, but it surely was one of many few sparks the Raptors had within the last body as they shot simply 5-of-22 from the ground because the Cavs pulled away comfortably.
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“I assumed we had sequences that we performed rather well on offence and on defence, exterior of a gradual begin — we simply didn’t have sufficient vitality and sufficient pressure — I assumed we performed a really aggressive recreation in opposition to a extremely good group to be sincere with you,” mentioned Rajakovic later. “I want we may play this group each week as a result of it could make us higher, and we’re studying rather a lot.”
Within the early going, it appeared very very similar to nothing had modified since opening night time. The Cavs have been the Cavs, and the Raptors have been the Raptors, and that was that. There was no center floor.
Cleveland jumped as much as a 38-22 lead within the first quarter, and it wasn’t even just like the Raptors have been enjoying all that poorly. Cleveland, coming off a uncommon three-day break within the schedule, channelled their contemporary legs into their defence. Toronto struggled within the halfcourt, and Barnes as soon as once more struggled to make performs in opposition to Mobley’s spidery, six-foot-11 body. 4 Raptors turnovers helped the Cavs construct a 12-2 edge in fastbreak factors, and it appeared just like the route may be on once more.
However Rajakovic discovered one thing with the defensive-minded lineup within the second quarter that featured Barnes and reserves Chris Boucher (10 factors) and rookie Jonathan Mogbo, who ended up scoring a career-best 13 factors in 20 minutes off the bench.
After the Cavs shot 65 per cent from the ground and 6-of-9 from three within the first quarter, the Raptors held Cleveland to 9-of-23 taking pictures within the second quarter, though they nonetheless hit 4 threes, two of them by reserve guard Ty Jerome, who had 17 factors and 4 assists in 14 first-half minutes. Nonetheless, the Raptors pressured 5 Cleveland turnovers in a two-minute stretch and reduce what had been a 16-point Cleveland result in 4 with 2:44 to play on a Gradey Dick triple. However the Cavs went into the half on an 8-2 run within the last seconds, and the Raptors trailed 65-55. Dick later left the sport with calf soreness. He completed with 18 factors on 6-of-17 taking pictures, with three triples on 9 makes an attempt.
The third quarter mirrored the primary half: Cleveland jumped out to a lead early earlier than extra defensive strain from a Raptors lineup that includes Mogbo, and this time, rookie Jamal Shead alongside Barnes started inflicting issues. The Raptors’ finest sequence of the night time got here when Barnes pressured Jerome on his dribble, and Mogbo jumped the passing lane to pressure the turnover, ultimately resulting in a nook three by Shead. Barnes and Shead teamed up on Jerome once more and compelled one other turnover that led to a bucket by Mogbo earlier than Barnes blocked Mobley on a put up transfer that triggered a roar from Barnes and a transition three from Shead. Instantly, the Raptors — down by 15 on the six-minute mark of the third — have been trailing by simply three with a minute left within the quarter.
It was every part the Raptors may have hoped for after their opening night time meltdown. Sadly, it wasn’t sufficient.
The Cavaliers wasted little time turning a six-point result in begin the fourth quarter to 17 halfway by the interval. Their expertise talked.
The Raptors have definitely made strides over the previous month and alter, however the Cavaliers stay past their attain for now.
