Game Summary
The Wine and Gold host the Toronto Raptors tonight at Quicken Loans Arena. Tipoff is at 7:00 p.m. ET.
When the two teams squared off this past Friday in Toronto, Cleveland (23-35) swatted eight shots and outrebounded the Raptors 47-42.
Luol Deng notched his 3rd double-double as a Cavalier with game-highs of 21 points and 11 rebounds in 38 minutes while Tristan Thompson added 13 points and nine rebounds in 34 minutes.
Toronto is a season-high six games above .500 with a 31-25 (.554) record. The last time Toronto was seven games above .500 was Feb. 20, 2010 (31-24).
Probable Starters/Injury Report* presented by Cleveland Clinic
Raptors: PG - Kyle Lowry, SG - DeMar DeRozen, SF - Terrance RossPF - Amir Johnson, C - Jonas Valanciunas
Status Update: (Cavs) - Carrick Felix, (Left patellar Stress Fracture, Out), Anderson Varejao, (Sore Back, Out), Dion Waiters, (Left Knee Hyperextension, Out), C.J. Miles, (Left Ankle Sprain, Out)
(Raptors) - None to Report
*Subject to change
*Subject to change
Head-to-Head Matchup
The Cavs are 12-4 in the last 16 games versus the Raptors at Quicken Loans Arena.
All-time, the Wine and Gold are 38-32 against the Raptors (20-14 Home, 18-18 Road).
Key to the Game/Key Matchup
The Century Mark
Cleveland has held their opponents to under 100 points in a season-high seven straight games. The last time they accomplished that feat was March 1-14, 2010 (also seven games).
With Sunday's 105-90 win vs. Orlando, Toronto improved to 26-7 when holding opponents under 100 points. The Raptors rank sixth in the NBA this season holding opponents under 100 points in 33 games - Chicago (43), Indiana (42), Memphis (38), Charlotte (37), Oklahoma City (34).
Suffice it to say, the first team to the century mark will give themselves a better chance at coming away with the victory.
Key Matchup
Frontcourt Battle
In his home debut as a Cavalier on Sunday against Washington, Spencer Hawes notched a double-double with 16 points on 5-10 (.500) shooting and 12 rebounds, to go along with four assists and one block in 32 minutes off the bench. In two games as a member of the Cavaliers, Hawes is averaging 11.5 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 29.5 minutes per contest.
Tristan Thompson has registered a double-double in five of the last six outings, averaging 15.5 points on .571 (36-63) shooting and 12.2 rebounds in 32.5 minutes per game over that stretch. On the season, Thompson has a team-leading 27 double-doubles, which ranks 3rd in the East.
Battling Thompson and Hawes in the frontcourt will be Toronto's Amir Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas.
Johnson is averaging 10.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 28.6 minutes in 49 games as a starter. He ranks ninth in the NBA with a .544 (235-for-432) field goal percentage and leads the Raptors in total blocks (60).
The Raptors are 15-7 when Valanciunas collects 10 or more rebounds this season. Toronto's man-in-the-middle is averaging 10.7 points and 8.3 rebounds, while shooting .550 (44-for-80) through 10 games this month.
Where to Catch the Action
TV: FOX Sports Ohio, Radio: WTAM 1100, NBA League Pass Audio, XM & Sirius 217
For live in-game updates, follow @cavs, @CavsJoeG, @CavsFredMcLeod, @MrCavalier34, @CavsJMike and @chones22 on Twitter.
Be sure to check cavs.com for Joe Gabriele's live in-game blog providing instant analysis and game notes. Plus, get into the discussion as die-hard Cavs fans talk about the game on CavFanatic's GameDay Thread.
Available Ticket Offer
- All-You-Can-Eat Seats - More Info
On Deck
After tonight's game, the Cavs travel to Oklahoma City on Wednesday to face the Thunder at 8:00 p.m. ET.