Cavaliers-Raptors Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Apr 06 2012 2:08PM

The Toronto Raptors have proven fairly formidable of late thanks to a tremendous defensive display.

That shouldn't come as much of a surprise to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The host Raptors try for a four-game season sweep and a sixth win in seven meetings with the short-handed Cavaliers, who look to avoid a 10th consecutive loss Friday night.

After knocking off Washington and Charlotte - the two worst teams in the league, Toronto (20-35) improved to 3-0 this month with Wednesday's 99-78 rout at Philadelphia. The Raptors outscored the 76ers 44-22 in the second half and limited them to seven points in the final 12 minutes - the second-fewest points allowed in the fourth quarter in team history.

"Everybody knows their role," said DeMar DeRozan, who had 18 points. "Nobody's trying to do more than what they normally do ... once we get that going it's tough for us to be beat."

Much of Toronto's recent success can be attributed to its strong play on defense. The Raptors, allowing 95.1 points per game on the season, have held opponents to just 85.7 during their run. They haven't won four in a row since Nov. 17-24, 2010.

"Really we're outside (of the playoff picture) looking in, nothing to really play for," said coach Dwane Casey, whose team is in 11th place in the Eastern Conference.

"Andrea (Bargnani) and DeMar and all the other guys playing for pride - it's not like we're really pressing the hammer on them. I told them all these games are for pride, that way you don't go home this summer and regret anything you did this season."

The Raptors surely like their chances of keeping things going with the Cavaliers (17-35) coming to town. Toronto has held Cleveland to an average of 87.0 points on 36.4 percent shooting in its three victories this season - including a 92-77 home win Jan. 4.

The Raptors more recently overcame 14 points, seven rebounds and seven assists from Kyrie Irving during a 96-88 road victory March 13. Irving, though, remains out of action after re-injuring his sprained right shoulder during Tuesday's 125-90 loss to San Antonio.

The Cavaliers saw their woes continue in the opener of a three-game trek the following night, falling 107-98 to Milwaukee. In the midst of its longest losing streak since dropping an NBA-record 26 straight last season, Cleveland trailed by 19 in the second quarter but clawed its way back to make things interesting down the stretch.

Former Raptor Anthony Parker matched a career high with 27 points while Donald Sloan, who started in place of Irving, added 12 and eight assists.

"We have two more games on this road trip. If we play the same way, there's no reason why we won't have the opportunity to win both, in Toronto and New Jersey," coach Byron Scott said. "We just have to make sure it continues to go this way (forward), instead of going back. Don't back slide. Build on this type of effort."

Scott won't have Parker for this one, though, as the guard is expected to miss at least two games with a bruised sternum. Manny Harris will start in his place.

The Cavaliers allowed the Bucks to shoot 57.1 percent from the floor and are surrendering 104.2 points per game on 49.1 percent shooting during their slide.

Cleveland could have a hard time trying to contain Bargnani, who's averaged 25.0 points on 50.6 percent shooting over his last five games. He's posted 25.8 points per game on 62.3 percent shooting in his four most recent home matchups in the series.

Jamison scores 25 points as Cavaliers beat Raptors

Posted Apr 07 2012 12:00AM

TORONTO (AP) Standing at the free throw line with a chance to clinch a rare Cleveland win, Lester Hudson couldn't help thinking about his soon-to-expire 10-day contract. It wasn't a distraction, but a motivation.

"The 10 day is almost up so I said to myself, `If you want to stay, you've got to make these,"' Hudson said. "`Do not worry about the crowd. If you want to stay, you make these.' I made them, so hopefully I can stay."

Antawn Jamison scored 16 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, Hudson had a career-high 23 points and the Cavaliers beat the Toronto Raptors 84-80 Friday night, snapping a nine-game losing streak.

"I'm very, very proud of my team and the way they played," Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said. "To come back and win that game showed a lot, as far as I'm concerned."

Samardo Samuels scored 10 points as Cleveland outscored the Raptors 33-17 in the fourth to avoid a sixth loss in seven meetings with Toronto. The Raptors shot 5 for 19 in the fourth.

Hudson, whose 10-day contract is due to expire Sunday, made a strong case for another, adding a career-high seven assists, three steals and making 11 of 13 at the line.

"It was a great opportunity for me tonight and I played great," he said.

Scott wasn't around to see his team's first win since March 19 at New Jersey after he was ejected with 53 seconds left in the first half following a brief but fiery argument with referee Kane Fitzgerald. It was the first ejection of the season for Scott, who was replaced by assistant Paul Pressey.

"I thought both techs were extremely quick," Scott said. "I didn't complain outrageously, I just said `If you're going to call those calls down there, you've got to call them down here' and I got a tech for that and I thought that was just ridiculous."

Samuels said Scott's ejection fired up the Cavaliers.

"Coach was going to bat for us," Samuels said. "The ref wasn't giving any calls. We just had to have his back that much more, go out there and just fight, practice what he preaches."

DeMar DeRozan scored 28 points and Andrea Bargnani had 19 for the Raptors, who were seeking their first four-game winning streak since Nov. 17-24, 2010.

Manny Harris started for Cleveland in place of Anthony Parker, who scored a season-high 27 points but bruised his sternum in Wednesday's loss at Milwaukee. Parker is also expected to miss Sunday's game at New Jersey.

Harris, along with fellow guard Donald Sloan and Raptors teammates Alan Anderson and Ben Uzoh, was one of four starters from both squads who began the year in the NBA Development League. In all, Cleveland and Toronto featured seven players who have spent time in the D-League this season, including Hudson, who also played in China.

A free throw by newly signed D-Leaguer Justin Dentmon put the Raptors up 64-51 early in the fourth before Cleveland roared back behind eight straight points by Jamison, including a pair of 3-pointers, pulling the Cavaliers within 65-59 with 9:10 left.

"He got hot and we just feed the hot hand," Samuels said. "He did a great job bringing us back."

Uzoh ended the run with a layup but, after a layup by Samuels, Jamison hit a jumper and then another 3, tying it at 66 with 6:56 remaining.

"We missed the coverage on Jamison like 10 times in a row and that was the game right there," Bargnani said.

DeRozan restored Toronto's lead with a hook shot, but the Raptors didn't score again for nearly 4 1/2 minutes. Cleveland, meanwhile, reeled off an 8-0 run behind four points from Samuels and a layup from Jamison, taking a 74-68 lead with 3:03 to go.

"We just couldn't find the basket and couldn't make a free throw," Toronto coach Dwane Casey said.

Cleveland increased its lead to 78-71 and held on for the win as Hudson made two key free throws with four seconds left.

"Each day with Lester he seems to get a little more comfortable in his role with this team," Scott said. "Tonight was one of those nights where we obviously really needed him with Anthony Parker out and I thought he stepped up big time."

Bargnani connected on his first six shots of the game and scored 13 points in the first as the Raptors rallied from an early 10-2 deficit to lead 22-20.

Bargnani scored just one point in the second, but five each from DeRozan and Linas Kleiza helped the Raptors take a 42-39 lead at the half.

DeRozan scored 11 in the third as Cleveland's shooting went cold, with the Cavaliers making just three of 19 field-goal attempts as the Raptors pulled away to take a 63-51 lead into the fourth.

"I thought we were close to a record or something," Jamison said. "We couldn't get the ball in the ocean."

NOTES: Cleveland G Kyrie Irving is expected to miss seven to 10 days after re-injuring his sprained right shoulder in Tuesday's loss to San Antonio. ... Bargnani shot 2 for 12 after the first quarter. ... Toronto was without G Jose Calderon, sidelined by an eye injury after he was elbowed by Elton Brand in Wednesday's win at Philadelphia. Calderon could return Sunday when the Raptors visit Oklahoma City. ... Raptors F James Johnson (disciplinary reasons) missed his second straight game. Casey said Johnson will play Sunday. ... Toronto F Gary Forbes missed his third straight game with a sore left knee. ... The Raptors signed G Justin Dentmon to a 10-day contract and gave new 10-day contracts to Anderson and Uzoh. ... Former Raptor Sonny Weems attended the game.

Notebook: Cavaliers 84, Raptors 80

Posted Friday April 6, 2012 11:22PM

By Duane Watson, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: The Cleveland Cavaliers (18-35) ended their nine-game losing streak on Friday, beating the Toronto Raptors (20-36) 84-80. Despite missing starters Kyrie Irving and Anthony Parker, the Cavaliers stormed back in the fourth quarter outscoring the Raptors 33-17.

Antawn Jamison carried the Cavaliers on his back scoring 25 points and eight rebounds, including 16 points in the fourth quarter. The Cleveland bench stepped up as well with Lester Hudson, on 10-day contract, setting career-highs with 23 points and seven assists while, Samardo Samuels added 10 points and seven rebounds.

The Raptors had a 42-39 lead at halftime and followed it with dominant third quarter outscoring the Cavaliers 21-12 for a 63-51 lead in the game. The Cavaliers responded in the fourth, starting the quarter on a 17-6 run with Jamison the game at 68-68 with 6:24 left. The game then went scoreless for the next two minutes until Samuels hit 1-for-2 free throws starting an 11-3 run. But more importantly the Raptors didn't make a basket from the field for the last six minutes of the game until the 27 second mark, which was too little too late.

The Raptors winning streak ended at three games and were led by DeMar DeRozan's 28 points and Andrea Bargnani's 19 points and seven rebounds.

QUOTABLE: "We did a good job putting them on their heels. Somebody had to help Lester coming down and I was able to get a couple of open looks. Just did a great as far as getting me the ball and I was able to knock down some big shots."
-- Cavaliers forward Antawn Jamison

THE STAT: The Cavaliers couldn't put the ball in the net all night, shooting a dismal .342 per cent from the field going 25-for-73 and .294 per cent from the 3-point line on 5-for-17 shooting, yet they still won the game.

TURNING POINT: The Cavaliers started the fourth quarter on a 17-6 run and the Raptors had a scoreless drought only making three field goals in the last 6 minutes of the game, all of which came inside the last 30 seconds.

QUOTABLE II: "The 10-day is almost up, so I said to myself, 'If you stay, you got to make these. Do not worry about the crowd.' And I made them, so hopefully I can stay."
-- Cavaliers guard Lester Hudson on his end of the game free throws.

HOT: Bargnani started the game hot, shooting 6-for-7 from the field scoring 13 of the Raptors first 17 points of the game. He finished the first half with 14 points and has been shooting .535 per cent from the field and averaging 22.4 points over his last 5 games.

NOT: With starters Irving (sprained shoulder) and Parker (bruised sternum) both out with injuries, the Cavaliers starting back court were a combined 3-for-16 from the field and 1-for-5 from the 3-point line. Donald Sloan and Manny Harris could only muster eight total points between the two of them.

NOTABLE: Three players started the game who are currently on 10-day contracts, Manny Harris for the Cavaliers and Ben Uzoh and Alan Anderson just signed their second 10-day contracts ... Raptors guard Justin Dentmon scored in his first game after being called up and signed to a 10-day contract yesterday ... Cavaliers head coach Byron Scott was ejected with 53 seconds left in the second quarter with a double technical ... Toronto wins the season series (3-1) with Cleveland for the second consecutive year ....

UP NEXT: For the Raptors, Sunday @ Oklahoma City, Monday @ Indiana and Friday vs. Philadelphia. For the Cavs, Sunday @ New Jersey, Tuesday vs. Charlotte and Wednesday vs. Indiana.

• Cavaliers: Harangody, Varejao
• Raptors: Bayless, Forbes

• Cavaliers: Scott, Scott
• Raptors: Kleiza

• Lead Changes: 7
• Times Tied: 5

• Arena: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
• Officials: #35 Kane Fitzgerald, #50 Olandis Poole, #30 John Goble
• Attendance: 16565
• Duration: 2:25