Smooth Irving shines for Cavs in big win over Raptors

According to oddsmakers from oddsmakers at BetDSI, Cleveland is favored at home tonight, as the Cavaliers are getting odds of -8 points against the Raptors.

Tristan Thompson scored 10 points with 12 rebounds as none of Cleveland’s starters played the fourth quarter. Thompson proved an athletic big who can move his feet on the perimeter defensively, be an elite rebounder and make an open shot in the paint can make big money on the free agent market. JJ had one nice drive to the basket, one bad three point attempt and one that dropped.

It’s a battle between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference as the Toronto Raptors travel to OH to face the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Quicken Loans Arena in the regular season of the National Basketball Association.

Just 2 minutes, 20 seconds later, Vucevic was whistled for his third foul as he attempted to prevent a Timofey Mozgov dunk. Albeit far from the “focal point” of the offense, as James dubbed him in Irving’s absence, he fit in and was more than effective with 10 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and a steal in 29 minutes, even though he only took five shots.

In 29 minutes, James scored 29 points. That put Lowry on the outside looking in on the starting lineup, despite Irving having only played two games when the votes came in and that Toronto, Lowry’s team, is the host city for the February exhibition. The Raptors shot over fifty percent in the first half and it looked like a certain last-possession game like November’s contest in Toronto.

The Cavs withstood solid offensive performances from Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan.

Thunder 116, Kings 104: DeMarcus Cousins had 33 points and a season-high 19 rebounds for visiting Sacramento.

This means that Irving will be sitting out some games, the same approach that the team has applied on other stars such as LeBron James and Kevin Love. J.R. Smith made a season-high eight three-pointers, shooting 8-for-14 from beyond the arc. Matthew Dellavedova led the team with 6 assists. Thompson played extremely well in the first half, ultimately finishing with 14 points and nine rebounds. Cleveland coach David Blatt has struggled settling on a rotation with a fully healthy roster.

Heading into the fourth quarter, there was no doubt who was going to win.

Now they have to face LeBron James, who may be at less than full strength.

Dellavedova was… not good at all in the first half and for stretches of the third quarter. From the looks of it, the sophomore coach feels that Irving is good to go, although the games where he will be playing will still be managed.

Smith, whose acquisition from New Orleans triggered Philadelphia’s turnaround, notched eight of his points in the final 4:38, when the Sixers salted the game away. James was asked a question about Irving making the All-Star game this year despite his injury-shortened season, and James responded that Irving is an “MVP”. The Cavs going on their run and relying on Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love with James in a secondary role or on the bench is key to how long this team will be able to contend. If they can’t do that, extending James’ prime becomes paramount. There was none of that first quarter woes we have seen before because the Cavaliers were keeping the opposition in front of them and helping when it was needed.