Cavaliers at Raptors
It was more of the same in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals with LeBron James - even on an off night - and his Cleveland Cavaliers once again getting the better of the Toronto Raptors. James and the Cavaliers will attempt to maintain their postseason dominance of the Raptors and take a commanding 2-0 series lead back home when the teams meet Thursday night in Toronto.
James recorded his 21st career playoff triple-double as Cleveland erased a 13-point deficit in the second half and survived multiple chances for the Raptors to win late in regulation and again in the closing seconds of overtime for a 113-112 win Tuesday night. "My teammates were unbelievable tonight," James told reporters afterward. "They stepped up when I wasn't at my best." Toronto, which has dropped nine of 11 playoff meetings with Cleveland over the last three seasons, must quickly move on from a game it probably should've won. "A lot of things, we did to ourselves," coach Dwane Casey told the media. "I think we're a better team. We just didn't make the shots down the stretch. I know it sounds simplistic, but we had our open looks, had our opportunities, that we didn't cash in on, and some other things we could clean up defensively."
TV: 6 p.m. ET, ESPN
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS: James was 12-of-30 from the field and 1-of-6 from the line in his 26-point, 13-assist, 11-rebound performance. "Shots weren't going in for me," James - who was 3-for-15 in the fourth quarter and overtime - told reporters. "It was probably one of my worst games of the season." Kyle Korver is among those teammates James credited with helping him out, and the sharpshooter tied his 2018 playoff high with 19 points while making 5-of-12 3-pointers.
ABOUT THE RAPTORS: Toronto has certainly heard all the talk of being owned by Cleveland and it seemed to lose its mental edge when the Cavaliers made things tight down the stretch Tuesday, including a final possession in regulation when the hosts had four misses. "We are better than some of the situations we put ourselves in," Casey added. "I can do a better job. I didn't like some of the possessions we had down the stretch even though we got open looks. We all can be better. Some of the turnovers we had. …" The Raptors had 14 turnovers while forcing just six and they've coughed it up 17 more times than their opponents during the postseason.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Cavaliers C Kevin Love had 13 rebounds in Game 1 but shot 3-of-13 and is hitting 31.9 percent of his shots in the playoffs.
2. Raptors C Jonas Valanciunas recorded 21 points and 21 rebounds in Game 1.
3. Cleveland has hit at least 13 3-pointers in all five playoff games against Toronto over the last two seasons.