Game of the Day: Cavaliers at Raptors

Yes, the Cavaliers are 11-4 on the season and on top of the East. Yes, they are outscoring teams by 6.7 points per 100 possessions, which is fourth best in the National Basketball Association.

The Toronto Raptors will don a colour they’ve never worn before for tonight’s game against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers; it’s the first in a series of black-and-gold uniform games inspired by musician and Raptors’ “Global Ambassador” Drake. “It comes from within”. I always like to be here to get the city excited.

News only broke that it was Drake Night on the 16th when the Raptors tweeted it (think Oprah and her surprise giveaways – “you get a vehicle, you get a auto, everybody gets a vehicle!”), and for those fans lucky enough to have the tickets, they were congratulated with a complimentary shirt and sweatband designed by the rapper and his OVO crew.

David Blatt absolved the Cavaliers of any fault after the game, but James rejected the softer stance.

The Raptors are still trying to find their sweet spot on offence and defence.

Ever since Drake Night made its debut a few years back, it’s become an annual event for the Toronto Raptors. He was simply all over him, as if offended that the Cavs would actually allow Cunningham to try and handle the ball against him. While Carroll’s contributions look ho-hum in the box score (12 points, mostly from 3-pointers), his defense presented James with a challenge.

“We got a hell of a defender in DeMarre Carroll”, DeRozan said.

He and Kyle Lowry combined for 47 of the Toronto Raptors ‘ 103 points, as the backcourt continues to fuel the success of the Atlantic Division-leading club. He came up with six boards and six points in the final quarter.

Kevin Love and Mo Williams were sitting at their locker stalls quiet, with puzzled expressions glued to their faces. The Raptors managed to survive the game even after the Clippers brought the game within six points at one point in the fourth quarter. Scoring 14 points in the quarter, Lowry helped to set the tone and intensity for Toronto in what was one of the team’s most complete efforts on the defensive end of the floor. Lowry made a driving layup with 2:33 to play in the third quarter in which Love notched 10 points.

“I thought that we got exhausted for obvious reason”, he said. “We didn’t have Delly tonight, we had to do the job with the guys that are out there. Hopefully missing this game now and getting an extra day or two of rest should hopefully clear it up”.

The Raptors are in Washington on Saturday then return home to host the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.