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Jay Satur - Raptors.com
It Was Over When....
After a first half where the Raptors were playing catch up the whole way, they finally managed to make a push in the third quarter and took a 58-57 lead on a Kyle Lowry 3-pointer with 7:14 to play in the frame.
It would prove to be extremely short-lived. Kyrie Irving replied with a driving layup the other way to trigger 16-2 Cavs run and the Raptors wouldn't get it any closer than six points the rest of the way. The end result was the most lopsided loss the Raptors' five on the season to date.
"They (Cleveland) were hitting on all cylinders and they were executing as well as you could ask for," said head coach Dwane Casey post-game. "(LeBron) James, Kevin (Love), they were doing everything, so hats off to them. I would say that I know this team tonight wasn't us."
The Game Changer
LeBron James wasn't at his best in the first meeting between these two teams and particularly in the second half. With some NBA Hall of Famers looking on at Air Canada Centre, James certainly made amends on Friday with a tremendously balanced overall game in the Cavs' win. He played the role of facilitator a little more in the first half with seven of his game-high 13 assists and was more of a scorer in the second half with 14 of his team-high 24 points.
It was a performance that prompted Magic Johnson, on hand as part of the night's gala tribute event to Nelson Mandela, to call it a "Magic"-type game on the team's broadcast.
"To have legends here and see Charles (Barkley) and Magic (Johnson) in the crowd is spectacular," James said post-game. "For me, I just try to do whatever it takes to win and being able to get my teammates involved, assists to me mean more than anything."
The Underrated Raptor
On a night where one of the league's top offences struggled to get things in gear, Amir Johnson was strong from the get go. Twelve of his game-high 27 points came in the first quarter on 6-of-7 shooting from the field which accounted for well over half of the Raptors offence in the frame. Johnson was one of only two Raptors two shoot better than 50 per cent from the field on a night where entire team connected at a clip of .407.
A positive sign for the Raptors' resident warrior, who's been battling through his usual battery of aches and pains that would send many to the sidelines.
"I feel like I have a little bit more bounce since I hurt myself in Orlando and it's a process," said Johnson post-game. "It's slowly getting better and better. Even though I'm still taking beatings, I feel good."
Watch more from Johnson after the game below (mobile users click here)
That's A Rap
"It was a beautiful day and Masai (Ujiri) did a magnificent job of putting this all together. To see guys like Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley and Dikembe Mutombo come in, all the guys that were a big part of the NBA’s history and the message that Nelson Mandela sent throughout the world was huge. This was bigger than basketball and that was the theme of the night for our players. What was going on upstairs was far bigger than basketball. I lived it, went through it and understand it. It meant a lot to our players and it was a magnificent night for our organization." - Raptors head coach Dwane Casey, on Friday's tribute to Nelson Mandela
"I thought what the Raptors, together with the NBA and NBA players, did tonight for Nelson Mandela, who was such a great and ardent supporter of sport as a means of bringing people closer together and achieving the goals of understanding, inequality and togetherness. On a human level it was a great night all around, it really was." - Cavaliers head coach David Blatt, on the Mandela tribute
By The Numbers
54 - Percentage of Raptors scoring that came from two players -- Amir Johnson and Kyle Lowry on Friday
2003-04 - The last season the Raptors had a winning record through the first 20 games of the regular season.
8 - Number of games since the Raptors last scored under 100 points.
4 - Number of days until these two teams clash again for a third meeting of the season back in Cleveland.
1 - Both the largest lead and number of leads for the Raptors in defeat.
They Said It
"We definitely owed them one tonight. They came into our house and they gave it to us, hands down. That definitely motivated all of us." - Cleveland guard Kyrie Irving on his team's motivation
"We were just missing shots. I don't think there's anything we could've done differently. G (Greivis Vasquez) had a rough night, I had a rough night. The only ones who shot over 50 per cent I think were JJ (James Johnson) and Amir (Johnson)."- Kyle Lowry, on missing shots
"It’s always fun to come home and play the Raptors. I guess these games are a little heightened up a little bit more because we have a new teammate and they’re playing really well right now. Whenever you can get a win on this court it’s definitely a good feeling."- Cavs forward and Brampton, Ontario native Tristan Thompson, after his huge 21-point, 14-rebound performance
Up Next
The Raptors aim to bounce back after a rare home loss when the Kenneth Faried, Ty Lawson and the Denver Nuggets invade Air Canada Centre on Monday (TSN2, FAN590).