Tonight’s Raptors game wasn’t the prettiest or most exciting, nor was it the sexiest matchup — in fact, those still in the pro-tanking camp would’ve even considered it a must-lose. But with a shot at the play-in tournament and a daunting schedule ahead, a game against the Cavaliers presented the Raptors with an opportunity for a relatively easy win before the final stretch of the regular season.
The last matchup between these two teams was a blowout win for the Raptors, who may have taken their previous loss to Collin Sexton and the Cavs a bit personally. The Raptors were notably without Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, and Pascal Siakam for the win, but Gary Trent led the way with 44 points on an insane 17-for-19 from the field.