Cleveland came out of the gates hot and had a double-digit lead in the first half, and held a 51-44 advantage at the break. The Cavs were able to maintain that lead in the second half, holding off a late Raptors rally for the win.
Turning Point:
Toronto had cut Cleveland's lead to six with 5:46 left in the fourth quarter, but the Cavs came out of the timeout and went on a quick 6-2 run, giving themselves some more breathing room. The Raptors never had another chance.
Key Stat:
The Cavs were great on the glass tonight, an area they usually struggle with (they rank 25th in the league in rebounding). They outrebounded the Raptors by eight on the night, neutralizing Toronto's advantage down low and turning it into a perimeter-oriented game.
Cleveland MVP:
LeBron James was his usual dominant self tonight, dropping 24 points and dishing out 13 assists while controlling all phases of the game. Tristan Thompson also played extremely well off the bench, scoring 21 points and grabbing 14 rebounds.
Toronto MVP:
The Raptors got a big effort from forward Amir Johnson, who finished with 27 points and seven rebounds. Kyle Lowry also had a big night with 22 points and nine assists, but those two didn't get any help from their teammates.
What’s Next?
Cleveland will finish their road trip in Brooklyn against the Nets on Monday night, while Toronto hosts the Nuggets on Monday.
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