SB Nation
  • Google+

SB Nation Cleveland

Stay connected for news and updates

Third Quarter Outburst Is Decisive; Raptors Defeat Cavaliers 101-81

Antawn Jamison scores 13, Anthony Parker 10 to lead cold-shooting Cavaliers

  • Live
8 Total Updates since October 29, 2010
  • Important 7
  • Updates 8
  • All Updates 8

Recap: Toronto Raptors 101 - Cleveland Cavaliers 81

Andrea Bargnani finished with 20 points and Linas Kleiza had 19, as the Toronto Raptors took a 101-81 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Air Canada Centre.

DeMar DeRozan added 14 points, while Reggie Evans pulled in 14 rebounds for the Raptors, who rebounded from Wednesday’s season-opening loss to New York.

Antawn Jamison had 13 points to pace the Cavaliers, who had recorded a home win against Boston on Wednesday to begin the year and open the post-LeBron James era.

Anthony Parker scored 10 for Cleveland, which played without forward Anderson Varejao. He left the team to be with his father, who was scheduled to have heart surgery Friday.

Toronto held an advantage of several possessions at halftime, but took full control in the third quarter. Cleveland was woeful in those 12 minutes, despite 11 points from Jamison, shooting just 6-for-21.

Toronto made twice as many field goals, as Kleiza led the way with 13 points. With under four minutes to go in the period, he sank a jumper before the Raptors got the ball back following a Jamison turnover. Jamison blocked Kleiza’s layup at the other end, but Kleiza got the rebound before getting a layup to fall, capping a 10-2 burst for a 69-52 advantage.

After Jamison followed with a three, Toronto scored the final eight points of the period for a 77-55 lead, and the Raptors cruised in the fourth quarter.

Toronto led by as many as eight in the first quarter, though took a 24-20 lead into the second after a late Cavaliers rally.

The Raptors continued to play in front, and extended their lead to 44-32 following two Jarrett Jack foul shots with 1:05 left. But Cleveland scored six of the final eight points of the half, and Parker’s three at the buzzer made it a 46-38 game.

Leandro Barbosa and Sonny Weems each scored 13 off the bench for Toronto, which shot 47.6 percent…Cleveland made 38.1 percent of its shots and got to the free throw line only 10 times, making eight…Cavaliers guard Ramon Sessions was 1-of-10 from the field…Prior to this season, Toronto had won four of the last 22 matchups with Cleveland. The last time the Raptors won the season series was in 2003-04, James’ rookie year.

Continue

Toronto Uses Huge Third Quarter To Build Insurmountable Lead

You had to see this coming with two Cavs’ starter out.

The Toronto Raptors outscored Cleveland 31-17 in the third quarter and have basically salted away a win in Toronto. All that is left is the formality of the fourth quarter, as the Raptors lead 77-55 going into the final twelve minutes.

For what it is worth, Antawn Jamison came alive with a couple of three’s in the third quarter, but a Toronto barrage and continued cold overall shooting is doing Cleveland in.

Continue

Cold-Shooting Cavs Trail By Eight At The Intermission

The Cavaliers are shooting less than 37% from the floor, but an Anthony Parker 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer drew Cleveland within eight of the Toronto Raptors heading to the intermission.

Parker and Ryan Hollins lead the Cavs with seven, while Leon Powe and J.J. Hickson have each tallied six.

Andrea Bargnani leads all scorers with 12 for the Raptors, who are trying for their first win of the season tonight.

Continue

Raptors Jump To Eight-Point Lead, Cavs Trim It To Four After 12 Minutes

Toronto jumped on the Cavaliers 16-8 midway through the first quarter tonight, but Cleveland ended the quarter on a 12-8 run of their own and trail 24-20 after one.

Seven Cavs got in the scoring column and three lead the way with 4 points.

Another update to follow at halftime.

Continue

Mo Williams, Anderson Varejao Inactive Vs. Raptors

The Cavaleirs will be without PG Mo Williams and C Anderson Varejao tonight in Toronto. Both were ruled inactive for the game.

Williams is still trying to battle back from a groin problem suffered in Spetember. He was able to play in one game, but then was away from the team for a week following the death of his father-in-law.

Varejao remained in Cleveland today to be with his father who was undergoing heart surgery.

Continue

Game #2 - Cleveland Cavaliers at Toronto Raptors Game Preview

The Cleveland Cavaliers hope to work on their first win in the post-LeBron James-era when they head north of the border to take on the rebuilding Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre.

The Cavs, led by new head coach Byron Scott, stunned the defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics on Wednesday when J.J. Hickson went 8-of-11 from the field for 21 points, leading Cleveland to a 95-87 victory over the C’s at Quicken Loans Arena.

The Cavs, playing for the first time since 2002 without two-time MVP James on the roster, were able to do something that James’ new team — the Heat — could not do a night earlier. While James and Co. lost in Boston on opening night Tuesday, Cleveland was able to secure a victory without its former superstar.

“We had a couple lapses, which usually happens in games. But we had a great coaching job — we called timeouts when we needed it — and we got together as a group and just played good basketball,” Hickson said.

The hosts had six players reach double figures in scoring, including Daniel Gibson with 16 and Ramon Sessions with 14. Anthony Parker, Jamario Moon and Ryan Hollins each had 10 points, while Anderson Varejao provided eight points and 10 rebounds.

Cleveland earned the win without starting point guard Mo Williams, who missed most of the preseason with a groin problem and was held out of the opener due to conditioning concerns. He is questionable for tonight’s contest.

In other team news Varejao was excused from traveling with the team to Toronto so he can be with his father during heart surgery.

The Raptors, meanwhile, fell in their first game without All-Star forward Chris Bosh, who signed to play with James in Miami during the offseason.

Amare Stoudemire scored seven of his 19 points in the fourth quarter on Wednesday, as the New York Knicks took down Toronto, 98-93, in the season opener for both teams at Air Canada Centre.

Andrea Bargnani had 22 points and six rebounds to pace the Raptors, who not only lost Bosh but fellow star forward Hedo Turkoglu, who was sent to Phoenix in the offseason for Leandro Barbosa.

Barbosa ended with 13 points off the bench against the Knicks, while free agent pickup Linas Kleiza added 13 points and five boards. Guard Jarrett Jack contributed 16 points and six assists.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do but we had some good moments,” Kleiza said. “We just couldn’t make some shots at the end, we made some bad decisions on the offensive end and we’ve got to play more together.”

Cleveland took three of four games with Toronto last season and has won eight of nine overall in the series.

Continue

Anderson Varejao Doubtful To Play Tonight In Toronto

Cavaliers C Anderson Varejao did not travel with the team to Toronto and is not expected to play tonight against the Raptors. The team excused Varejao so that he could stay in Cleveland and be with his father who is undergoing heart surgery today.

If Varejao does not play, Ryan Hollins would get the start at Center.

Continue

Photographs by spatulated, Triple Tri, and chrischappelear used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.