Raptors look to stymie Cavaliers and even up NBA playoff series

By News Staff

The Toronto Raptors will look to even their Eastern Conference Final series against the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight at Air Canada Centre.

Toronto brought Cleveland’s post-season 10 game winning streak to a screeching halt on Saturday with a 99-84 victory to cut the series deficit to 2-1.

The Cavaliers have not lost two consecutive games against Eastern Conference teams in the Playoffs since 2010.

Toronto has won seven of nine playoff games at home this post-season.

DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry combined for 52 points while Bismack Biyombo hauled down a Raptors’ playoff-record 26 rebounds, blocked four shots, and scored six of his seven points in a quick fourth-quarter spurt that helped seal Toronto’s win. However, DeRozan scored only one of his game-high 32 points in the fourth quarter.

While LeBron James scored 24 points, forward Kevin Love scored three points and made just one of nine field goal attempts while Kyrie Irving also struggled with his shooting, missing 16 of 19 as the Cavaliers were held below 100 points for the first time in these playoffs. Toronto probably can’t count on both Irving and Love going a combined 0 for 9 shooting in the first quarter for a second straight game.


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The Cavaliers will be without Dahntay Jones who was suspended for one game after striking Biyombo below the belt at the end of Game 3. “I got hit in an area I probably wasn’t supposed to get hit in,” Biyombo said afterwards. And the league agreed.

Irving is expected to play after getting the worst of a collision with Toronto’s Cory Joseph late in Saturday’s game. The team said he simply had the wind knocked out of him.

For Toronto, Jonas Valanciunas is not expected to play. Casey said his ankle is still sore after going through shootaround and while he’s encouraged by his progress, he is listed as doubtful. He’s been out since Game 3 of the Miami series after spraining his right ankle.

Head coach Dwyane Casey also finds himself a little lighter in the wallet, having been fined $25,000 for his comments about the officiating in Game 3.

Files from The Associated Press were used in this report

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