Cavs News! Raptors revenge, power rankings, Dame Time
The Toronto Raptors have had the Cleveland Cavaliers’ number this season. In the season opener the Raptors eeked out a win over the Cavs in Toronto, and then on Cyber Monday the Cavs were dropped by 12 points and by 11 two days before Christmas. They got one final crack at Toronto last night.
The Cavaliers didn’t let the chance get away, getting out to an early lead and not relinquishing it in a 118-93 victory. Donovan Mitchell had struggled to score against the Raptors’ OG Anunoby in previous games, but last night he erupted for 35 points and hit eight 3-pointers.
Jarrett Allen earned the game’s Junkyard Dog chain, beasting the Raptors’ new center Jakob Poeltl to the tune of 23 points and 11 rebounds. Darius Garland was the plus-minus star, slinging 11 assists and finishing +39 for the night. Cleveland doubled up the Raptors from 3-point range and had 31 assists on 44 baskets.
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The NBA is especially confusing right now, with Trade Deadline additions and a myriad of injuries contributing to an absolutely-packed middle of the league. How high do the Cavs land on the latest edition of the NBA Power Rankings, and who will emerge from the chaotic center?
Also on the website from this weekend, we took a deep dive into why the Cavs have a good chance to catch the Philadelphia 76ers in the standings for third place. In doing so, they would give themselves an easier first-round opponent and then secure home-court advantage in the East Finals if they meet Philly there.
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DAME TIME.
Nearly two months after Donovan Mitchell scored 71 points, Damian Lillard matched him in a less-stressful situation by dropping 71 points in an absolute flaying of the Houston Rockets. He hit 13 3-pointers, one off the NBA record, and went 14-of-14 from the free-throw line.
https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1630064395895164929
Sunday was a wild day of basketball, with games starting early at 1:00 PM ET. The Milwaukee Bucks beat the Phoenix Suns to continue their winning streak, now at 14 games. LeBron James led the Los Angeles Lakers back from a 27-point deficit to beat the Dallas Mavericks, notching the NBA’s largest comeback victory this season. Last night the Golden State Warriors pulled out a win against the Minnesota Timberwolves despite missing three starters (the Wolves were missing two of their own) and then Nikola Jokic overcame the LA Clippers in overtime in the nightcap with another tripe-double.
Trae Young hit a buzzer-beater to drop the Brooklyn Nets, moving Joe Prunty to 2-0 as the interim coach after Nate McMillan was fired. Prunty’s record will be locked in glass, as the Hawks then agreed to terms with Quin Snyder to be their next head coach and he could coach as soon as Tuesday.
Next. NBA Power Rankings: Post All-Star Break Edition. dark
Coming up: The Cavaliers have a couple of nights off before heading to Boston to face the Celtics on Wednesday.