The Cleveland Cavaliers(13-8) finished their three-game road trip in Toronto on the second half of a back-to-back against the Raptors(11-9). Cleveland was again without Jarrett Allen(back) and Lamar Stevens(illness). However, they did get back Caris LeVert, but it wasn’t enough.
Toronto led by nine at halftime and dominated the third as they led by as many as 18 in the quarter. The Raptors had their largest lead of the game of 20 in the fourth, and they would defeat the Cavs 100-88 at Scotiabank Arena.
Here’s the Great, Not So Great, and the Bottom Line of the Cavs’ loss to the Raptors.
Great:
Evan Mobley had his second straight double-double with 18 points, 15 rebounds and two blocks. This was his fifth double-double in the last seven games.
Darius Garland had 18 points, 10 assists, and three steals. He was 7/11 from the field; he shot it well for Cleveland. It’s his third double-double in the last four games.
Not So Great:
Isaac Okoro got the start for the injured Jarrett Allen. His shot was off as he shot 1/11 from the field. Okoro was solid in the past two games but was not very good on Monday night. He finished with two points.
Donovan Mitchell scored five points in the first quarter but added only three points the rest of the way. Mitchell ended the night with a season-low eight points on 3/11 shooting. He was 2/4 in the first quarter but was 1/7 the rest of the way.
Shooting: The Cavs shot 38% from the field and was 7/38 from deep. Against the Pistons, they were 8/28 from deep. In the last two games, the Cavs were a combined 15/66 from downtown.
Bottom Line
Cleveland was not very good against the Raptors; they did not have the energy and could not make shots. This is a make-or-miss league, and the Cavs missed a lot. Nights like this happen in an 82-game schedule, but they must be better.
What’s Next:
The Cavs return home on Wednesday to battle the 76ers.
Best of the Rest:
The Toronto Raptors had six players in double figures on Monday night; O.G. Anunoby had 20 points, and Pascal Siakam, who returned after missing 10 games with an adductor injury, added 18 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists.
LeVert, who returned after missing four games with an ankle injury, added nine points for Cleveland off the bench.
