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Game Day: Raptors vs. Cavaliers

Jay Satur - Raptors.com

After ending their five-game losing streak, the Raptors get a tough test to make it two in a row when they face the surging Cleveland Cavaliers tonight at Air Canada Centre (7:30 PM ET, TSN2, Sportsnet 590 The FAN)

Projected Starting Lineups

Raptors: Greivis Vasquez (G), DeMar DeRozan (G), James Johnson (F), Amir Johnson (F), Jonas Valanciunas (C)

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Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving (G), J.R. Smith (G), LeBron James (F), Kevin Love (F), Timofey Mozgov (C)

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Injury/Roster Report

Raptors: Bruno Caboclo on assignment in the NBA D-League

Cavaliers: Shawn Marion - left hip strain (out), Anderson Varejao - left Achilles tendon rupture (out)

Game Notes

  • Does Kyle Lowry make his return? The Raptors All-Star point guard has sat out the last two games for the Raptors to get some much-needed rest and take care of some minor ailments and head coach Dwane Casey maintained that Lowry's status is "day-to-day" after Tuesday's practice. Both Lowry and head coach Casey have stated that this move is more about the long view and that could get put to the test tonight, as the Cavs can pull into a virtual tie for the Raptors for second place in the Eastern Conference with a win. Lowry has averaged 20.3 points and 10.3 assists in three head-to-head matchups with the Cavs this season, but has shot 36.0 per cent from the field.Watch more from head coach Dwane Casey below on the motivation to rest Lowry at this specific point of the season and the challenge that the Cavs present tonight (mobile users click here).

  • Tonight's game is a battle of two teams that have thrived with good offence. Atlanta (32-5), Toronto (31-8) and Cleveland (30-5) have the best records in the East when scoring 100+ points. The Raptors have done it far less frequently of late however -- reaching the century mark just three times since February 1st (12 games).

  • DeMar DeRozan looks to build on a big bounce back game of 35 points (season-high) against the Sixers for one of his finest efforts of the season. DeRozan, who hit a season-high 12 field goals in the win and was a perfect 10-10 from the free throw line, has recorded 10 FG and 10 FT in the same game eight times in his career, with the latest coming exactly one year apart – Mar. 2, 2014 vs. Golden State (32 points, 10-16 FG and 11-12 FT).Watch more from DeRozan after Tuesday's practice below (mobile users click here)
  • The Cavs shook off a mini two-game slide with a 110-79 blowout win over the Celtics on Tuesday for their 12 straight home win and their 19th victory in the last 23 games. Kyrie Irving, who returned to the Cleveland lineup after missing those two losses with a shoulder injury, drilled back-to-back triples mid-way through the first to put the Cavs ahead and they never looked back for their 38th win of the season. 

  • LeBron James scored 27 in the win and made a little history in the process -- passing former teammate Ray Allen to move into 21st on the NBA's career scoring list with 24,508 points. James, who has scored 106 points in his last three games and is averaging 26.2 per contest this season, should have ample time to vault Patrick Ewing (24,815) to crack the top 20 by the end of the regular season. 

  • Beware of Brampton's own Tristan Thompson tonight, who has been a factor off the bench in three head-to-head matchup with the Raptors this season. The fourth overall pick in the 2011 draft has averaged 13.3 points, 9.7 rebounds (including an astounding 5.7 offensive rebounds) per contest. According to Elias, Thompson leads all NBA reserves in rebounds per game (7.7), offensive rebounds per game (3.4) and total rebounds (378).