The Cleveland Cavaliers moved one step closer to the second round with a gritty 125 – 120 win over the Toronto Raptors. While the scoreboard was high, the game felt like a heavyweight boxing match, characterized by physical play and a late game scuffle that nearly boiled over.
Key Moments
- The Flashpoint: Late in the fourth quarter, Toronto’s RJ Barrett and Cleveland’s James Harden had to be separated after Harden yanked a ball away from Barrett near the bench. Barrett didn’t mince words post game, stating, “I take everything as disrespect.”
- The Stats: Harden and Evan Mobley led the Cavs with 23 points each. Cleveland’s bench was the X factor, with Dennis Schroder chipping in 19 points in just 21 minutes of play.
- Toronto’s Fight: RJ Barrett was a monster on the stat sheet, finishing with 25 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists. Scottie Barnes also battled through a physical matchup with Harden all night.
