Raptors fade in the clutch as Cavaliers take Game 1 in OT

Cleveland star LeBron James had 26 factors, 13 assists and 11 rebounds to raise the Cavaliers to a 113-112 extra time win over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday, putting first in their much-anticipated second-round playoff collection. Jonas Valanciunas had 21 factors and 21 rebounds, whereas DeMar DeRozan had 22 factors, Kyle Lowry completed with 18 factors and 10 assists, and Pascal Siakam had 11 factors. Turnovers proved expensive for the Raptors, who will attempt to even up the collection in Thursday’s Game 2. They coughed up 21 factors on 14 giveaways, 9 in the first half alone. J.R. Smith added 20 factors for Cleveland, whereas Kyle Korver had 19. The Raptors had been constructing towards this second all season, since the day after they have been swept by Cleveland in the second spherical final season, and president Masai Ujiri stated the crew wanted a “tradition reset.” Toronto leads early That reset noticed the Raptors win a franchise-record 59 video games and clinch No. 1 in the East, incomes the all-important homecourt benefit for the post-season. The Raptors led from the opening tipoff, racing out to an early 14-point benefit after which holding on for pricey life. They staved off a Cavaliers comeback that made it a one-point recreation late in the first half, then opened the second half with a 12-Four run capped by a Lowry three-pointer. An entertaining third quarter noticed Valanciunas wag a finger menacingly after an enormous block. James responded with a dunk at the different finish, flexing his beefy arms at the Raptors bench. Toronto took an 87-82 lead into the fourth quarter in entrance of a raucous Air Canada Centre crowd of 19,954 that included rapper Drake, who engaged Cavs gamers, together with LeBron, all recreation lengthy. The Raptors boasted the greatest fourth-quarter defence in the league in the common season, however the Cavs nonetheless pulled inside a degree with 3:16 to play when Canadian Tristan Thompson drained two free throws — whereas the crowd chanted “Khloe! Khloe!” in reference to Thompson’s reported off-court indiscretions and girlfriend Khloe Kardashian who lately gave beginning to the couple’s daughter. Raptors’ offence sputters The Raptors did not make a subject aim in the remaining 4:19 of regulation and James tied the recreation with seconds to play on a soar shot over OG Anunoby. Toronto had 4 misses on its subsequent offensive possession, James hauling down the rebound that gave him his triple double and the Cavs possession of the ball. James missed at the buzzer, sending the recreation into additional time. Cleveland took a six-point lead in additional time after threes by Korver and Smith, however Lowry pulled the Raptors to inside a degree when he transformed a three-point play with 58 seconds left. With DeRozan draped throughout him, James turned the ball over on a shot-clock violation with 16 seconds left, however Fred VanVleet missed on a three-pointer to finish the recreation. Cleveland had dispatched Toronto in six video games in the convention remaining in 2016 en path to successful the NBA title, then got here final season’s humiliating sweep. However after two years of working into the big roadblock that’s LeBron, the Raptors consider they’re higher constructed to face Cleveland this season, revamping their offence to concentrate on three-point taking pictures and higher ball motion. The Raptors additionally had the good thing about a pair days relaxation over Cleveland for a change. The earlier two seasons noticed the Cavs get pleasure from per week off earlier than dealing with a drained Toronto crew. The tables have been turned for this collection as the Raptors knocked off Washington 4 video games to 2 on Friday, whereas it took Cleveland seven video games to get previous Indiana, and James had talked about being drained after Sunday’s Game 7. VanVleet challenges LeBron He did not look drained Tuesday. VanVleet was taking part in his second recreation of great minutes of those playoffs, after getting back from a shoulder damage. He had 9 factors, three rebounds and two assists, and bought in a small scuffle late in the first half when James shoved VanVleet, who raced again in direction of James. The rowdy ACC crowd chanted “Fred-dy!” however VanVleet was whistled for a foul on the play. DeRozan led the manner with 11 factors in the first quarter, and the Raptors, regardless of giving up seven factors on 5 turnovers, ended the quarter with a 16-5 run to take a 33-19 lead into the second. James had 5 assists in the second quarter, with three three-pointers and 11 factors, and the Cavaliers outscored Toronto 38-27 in the interval. Again-to-back threes from Korver and Smith reduce the Raptors’ lead to some extent 30 seconds earlier than halftime, and Toronto took a 60-57 benefit into the break. The collection shifts to Quicken Loans Area in Cleveland for Game Three on Saturday and Game Four on Monday. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors-cleveland-cavaliers-nba-recap-1.4644026?cmp=rss