Toronto Raptors looked good against the Cleveland Cavaliers, posting their 18th win of the season, 133-113. Although their opponent wasn’t very strong, this win could mean that the champs are back on the right track after a few games in which they performed badly.
The home team made pushes in the first and the third period, controlling the match from the start until the end. After reaching 35-17 advantage in the opening quarter, everything was clear about the winner in this one.
“They’re just a really good team and certainly a better team than us tonight,” said Cavs coach John Beilein.
The Raptors had an extremely high shooting percentage, 58.4%, hitting 52 of their 89 shots from the field. Apart from that, they also had staggering productivity outside the three-point line, reaching 50%, 16 for 32. Pascal Siakam had five threes, Kyle Lowry three, while Norman Powell continues his excellent offensive run, and among other things made four threes.
Powell scored 26 points, with 11 hits from the field in 15 attempts, adding 6 boards, 5 assists and 4 steals to his stats.
“What I like is the speed at which he sees the open floor and goes for it,” Nurse said about his starting guard.
It the recent times, Powell established himself as one of the irreplaceable pieces of Toronto’s squad. After numerous injuries at the start of the season, Powell jumped in and ever since played well. During the training camp, the 6-3 guard wasn’t near the starting five, but now, he even managed to replace Fred VanVleet. However, playing in the starting lineup or coming off the bench, for Powell doesn’t see any difference, as long as the Raptors win games.
“I’ll do whatever helps the team,” he said. “Coming off the bench or starting, it doesn’t matter to me as long as we’re winning.”
Pascal Siakam had 33 points in 36 minutes, shooting 13 for 24 from the field. Raptors’ forward also had 4 rebound and 4 assists. Kyle Lowry had a good game, delivering a double-double with 20 buckets and 11 assists. He would finally play in according to his All-Star status and as the starting point guard of a championship team.
“I’m getting a little bit better,” Lowry said. “Still need a little bit of time, but I’m getting a little bit better.”
OG Anunoby scored 13 and Serge Ibaka 14 off the bench.
Among the Cavaliers, Collin Sexton scored 25 buckets, 10 for 16 from the field, Darius Garland added 20 while Tristan Thompson had 18 with 8 boards.
Kevin Love, who seems unhappy at the moment in Cleveland and wants to be traded, played 25 minutes, scoring 9 points and 7 boards.
Cavs (6-21) now have three games at home coming up. The first one is against the Charlotte Hornets, after that with the Grizzlies. In the end versus the Atlanta Hawks.
Meanwhile, the Raptors (18-8) travel to Detroit to face the Pistons on Wednesday night and have two games at the Scotiabank Arena behind that. The first is against the Washington Wizards on Friday and after that, Nick Nurse’s boys await the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.
