The Cavaliers didn’t forget how to shoot or defend. Those vital parts of their game were just missing when they dropped a pair in the ACC to level the series. Cleveland regained control with a 116-78 win in Game 5 at The Q and must pack those game elements for a return trip to Toronto to close out the series.
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LOOK AHEAD
The Raptors might be better off losing on Friday just so they can avoid the embarrassment of going back to Cleveland and getting steamrolled again. While Toronto has accomplished so much this season, they just can’t seem to hang with the Cavs on the road. Toronto lost Games 1, 2 and 5 at The Q by a combined 88 points after Wednesday’s 116-78 demolition. The Raptors need a win Friday to avoid elimination and send the series back to Cleveland.
Toronto hasn’t lost to the Cavs this season at the ACC, winning both regular season matchups and taking Games 3 and 4, so that should give them confidence heading into Game 6. But they should have had a boat load of that confidence stuff heading into Game 5 after downing the Cavs twice at home to even the series. It looked like Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan had finally found the range after their combo 67-point outburst Monday. But it wasn’t to be. The pair struggled again and the Cavs have the Raptors on the ropes with the knockout blow ready to be delivered on Friday.
INJURIES
Center Jonas Valanciunas returned after missing eight games because of a sprained right ankle and scored nine points in 18 minutes, so that’s something. But banged up DeMarre Carroll continues to struggle from the field. He missed all four three-point attempts Wednesday and is just 4 for 24 from three-point range in the series.
KEY MATCHUP
LeBron James continues to dazzle, Kyrie Irving leads the Cavaliers and does his thing like no one else can, but Cleveland needs Kevin Love to be involved playing at a high level. That was never more evident than in Wednesday’s Game 6. After two dismal outings in Toronto where Love shot a combined 5 of 23, his slump was so horrific that he was essentially benched in the Game 4 loss.
Love spent last year’s playoffs mostly standing around in street clothes, limited to just four games after a shoulder injury in the first round ended his season. But his impact on this team and the potential championship run isn’t lost on anyone. His first shot on Wednesday was a turnaround hook. Nothing fancy about it, but the thing went in and it was a sign of what was to come. Love finished with 25 points on 8 of 10 shooting, bombing in 3 of 4 three-pointers and making all six freebies. With that, everything was right. The Cavs were back to having three stars, decimating the Raptors, and back to believing that when they play together they can beat anyone.
QUICK PICK
James said the adjustments made by the Cavs in the second half of Game 4, which allowed Cleveland to storm back from 18 points down and take the lead late in the fourth quarter before faltering, were in effect during Wednesday’s Game 5. The group that helped overcome the Game 4 deficit was back at it Wednesday, picking the Raptors defense’ apart with crisp ball movement and deadly accurate shooting.
The group didn’t include Love or Irving, so if the Raptors are able to strategize a defense to slow them down, two of the Big Three are left to inflict some damage. But for the Cavs it’s not about scoring points, which they can do, but getting stops. Something they failed to do late in Game 4, but hitched their wagon to on Wednesday. The defense set the tone and the offense responded. The Raptors didn’t, and their basketball season is about to come to an end.
NBA Odds: Cleveland 106, Toronto 98
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