Irving scores season-high 25, Cavaliers beat Raptors 122-100

Facing the Pistons should be a good test of adversity for Orlando as they will need to quickly forget their terrible showing in Cleveland. Playing without lead defender Carroll, the Toronto defense was not pretty, allowing the Cavs to shoot over 54 percent from the field in the half, along with a ideal 11 for 11 from the free throw line. “If you don’t bring your “A” game against them, you’re going to be embarrassed”.

On the other hand, the Raptors are leading the Atlantic Division with a 21-14 record and are 2.0 games ahead of the Boston Celtics who are second. Despite making a small push to cut the lead down to as few as 17 early in the half, the Cavaliers imposed themselves throughout much of the quarter, pushing their lead to as many 31. “Guys gotta understand – and I’ve told them this – only so many guys can play”, he said.

“We’re here to make a title run, so we have to start the year off right”, Jones said during an on-court interview with the arena emcee. “We just have no answer for them”. They’ve been to the NBA Finals.

LeBron James scored 29 points and Kevin Love had 10 points and 13 rebounds in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 104-79 victory over the Orlando Magic on Saturday night for their 13th consecutive win in the series. The Cavs have their full lineup and Kyrie Irving is nearing the point where his minute restriction will no longer be in place. Mario Hezonja and Shabazz Napier both scored 10 on the night.

The Magic committed five fouls while Cleveland was shooting 3-pointers.

However, James’ three-pointer to close the third pushed the lead back to 90-78 and the Cavs were never threatened again.

James admitted he wasn’t feeling well before the game, the Cavaliers’ first at home after a four-game trip. That said, I’ve been converted. David Blatt got the entire team involved and all produced except Anderson Varejao who went 0/1 in 7 minutes. More important, he went diving headfirst into an empty row of seats chasing a loose ball and came away unscathed. His knee survived the hard fall.

“We’ve got a big game tomorrow, a huge game for us tomorrow”, Oladipo said. “I think there was a gasp of air, not only from my teammates and the staff, but also everyone in the building”. The only loss came at Toronto…. That was the moment, ‘OK, I’m good.’ I bumped my knee on the floor.

Skiles acknowledges his team’s inability to beat the Cavaliers has some significance. But the Cavs haven’t really played anybody since losing to Golden State on Christmas Day.

Magic: Evan Fournier scored nine points to lead Orlando’s starters. Tobias Harris and Nikola Vucevic scored four apiece, Channing Frye had three and Elfrid Payton was scoreless….

The only juncture at which things looked promising was when the Magic forced a shot clock violation on Cleveland’s second possession with the score tied 2-2.

It’s with that latter memory the Raptors flew into Cleveland to face the Eastern Conference’s top team in the Cavaliers and arguably the league’s best player in LeBron James.