Raptors-Cavs, Behind the Box Score

And so when Thompson was on the bench in the fourth quarter of the Cavs’ 122-100 win over the Toronto Raptors on Monday while Irving was putting the final touches on a masterful night in which he posted 25 points, eight assists, six rebounds and just one turnover, he came to an important conclusion.

The All-Star point guard technically returned two weeks ago, but nights like this prove the real Irving is nearly back. “If he continues to play the way he’s been playing but also continues to progress in his game over the years, he can do something that’s very special around this league. I’m not going to put too much pressure on him right now, but I know what he can become in this league and tonight he showed it”. LeBron James scored 29 points to lead the Cavs. Led by Kyrie Irving, the Cavaliers scored at will while the Raptors wilted. We’re more anxious about touches than we are our defensive approach. He’s only the 15th player in the history of the National Basketball Association to pull that one off. Curry, who wasn’t even expected by his head coach to play, pumped in a relatively quiet 30 points, but it was a long three late in the fourth that gave Green his 10th assist and pulled the Oracle Arena patrons up to their feet. Carroll, a former Mizzou star, has played in 23 games, averaging 11.7 points and 4.8 rebounds.

A jumper by backup center Timofey Mozgov extended the Cavs’ lead to 108-87 with 6:13 left, the first 20-point lead of the game. Despite a solid effort in the first half, the Raptors, on the second night of a back-to-back, were unable to stick with the Cavaliers after the halftime break.

The performance was a big moment for Irving, who faced almost seven months of rehab after being injured in Game 1 of last season’s NBA Finals.

J.R. Smith made 8 of 14 3-pointers en route to 24 points, James had 20 points on 7-for-11 shooting and seven assists, an ill Kevin Love had 14 points and nine rebounds and Tristan Thompson had 14 points and 11 boards. In Toronto, the Raptors’ law is the only team to 100 wins.

Irving, still working his way back from offseason knee surgery, shot just 4 of 12 and missed all four of his 3-point attempts.

“That won the game for them right there”, Lowry said. “Kyrie did incredible things”.

Smith’s eight 3s were a season high, and the Cavaliers hit 17 of 33 for the game. As a result, this screwy East-Midwest-East-Southwest trip was created and the Cavs are spending 18 of 23 days (counting travel days) away from home. It was an important game for the Cavaliers – as far as relatively unimportant games go, anyway.

“It’s a team who beat us really good, and we remember that, so we look forward to trying to get them on their home floor like they got us”. “I heard about it but I haven’t listened to it”, James said of the track. “When the first one doesn’t go in, I feel like I’m going to make the next one”.

“Honestly, I just told him, ‘Man, it’s good to have you back and looking at full strength, ‘” Blatt said. “So I don’t think it should even be a question”.

NOTES: Toronto F DeMarre Carroll did not play in Monday’s game because of swelling in his knee.