CLEVELAND — Which crew would impose their most well-liked fashion on the opposite?
Would the Cleveland Cavaliers handle to maintain Recreation 1 of their first-round sequence towards the Toronto Raptors a principally half-court affair, the place their superior backcourt play and measurement benefit within the paint would have essentially the most affect?
Or would the Raptors be capable of velocity the sport up, drive turnovers and play the sport within the open ground, which was a key to their id by the common season, and particularly of their three matchups towards the Cavs. Toronto received all three of these — albeit all of them earlier than Nov. 25th — and had a 62-38 benefit in fastbreak factors as an enormous motive why.
The ultimate rating, 126-113 for Cleveland in a recreation the place the Raptors trailed by 20 for a lot of the second half, was an excellent indication of which crew was profitable in imposing its will. After enjoying their first post-season recreation in 4 years, the Raptors must regroup by Monday night time to keep away from happening 0-2 to the closely favoured Cavaliers.
Toronto led the NBA in fastbreak factors in the course of the common season, utilizing its aggressive, ball-hawking defence to drive turnovers and run, looking simpler offence in transition. In a playoff setting towards a rested, wholesome and skilled Cavs crew, the Raptors’ offensive oxygen was slowly turned off.
By the tip of the third quarter, the Raptors had managed only one level in transition. In the meantime, the Cavaliers had been in a position to carve up Toronto within the halfcourt. Led by their pair of wide-bodied, famous person guards, Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, Cleveland expanded a seven-point halftime result in 21 with a 21-6 run to start out the second half.
Mitchell led all scorers with 30 factors on 10-of-19 capturing. His backcourt mate Harden had 22 factors and 10 assists.
The Raptors had been led by RJ Barrett, who had 24 factors on 7-of-13 capturing. Scottie Barnes — the one Raptor nonetheless on the roster since Toronto was final within the post-season throughout his rookie 12 months in 2022 — completed with 21 factors and 7 assists however only one rebound and 5 turnovers. Jamal Shead, beginning for the injured Immanuel Quickley (hamstring), had 17 factors and transformed 5 of the six threes the Cavs had been daring him to shoot, whereas Brandon Ingram — the main focus of the Cavs defensive protection for a lot of the recreation — had 17 factors on 5-of-9 capturing and 7-of-10 from the road.
