Raptors at Cavaliers
The Toronto Raptors will try to complete a perfect three-game road trip and keep the pressure on in the race for first place in the Eastern Conference when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday. The Raptors rolled through the first two on the trip by nearly identical scores, first knocking off New Orleans 127-104 and then coasting past Miami 125-104 on Sunday.
Kyle Lowry led eight players in double figures with 24 points and Toronto tied a franchise record with 21 3-pointers to pull within two games of the East-leading Milwaukee Bucks. "I thought our pace was outstanding, almost a little reckless at times trying to push it up so fast, but that did get us a lot of things when we got it from one side to the other, even in transition," coach Nick Nurse told reporters. All-Star Kawhi Leonard was given the game off for rest but is expected back in the lineup to face the Cavaliers, against whom he is averaging 31.7 points in three games - all wins - this season. Cleveland is coming off an 0-2 road trip capped by Friday's 126-110 loss at Miami on Friday.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN (Toronto), FS Ohio (Cleveland)
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (48-19): Starting guards Lowry, Danny Green and Patrick McCaw were a combined 14-for-22 from 3-point range, with Lowry making a team-high six. "Good weather. The body was warm. It definitely helps,'' Lowry told reporters. "But we just came out with a composed mentality. We knew who we were going up against and those guys are hard to play." McCaw hit all three of his long-range tries en route to 10 points in his first start for the Raptors.
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (16-50): Cleveland was officially eliminated from playoff contention with the loss to the Heat but insist there is still plenty to play for down the stretch. "That's not an option and our guys understand that," coach Larry Drew told reporters when asked if there would be any giving up on the part of his players. "Every time we step out on the floor, we're going to have some good days and bad days, we understand that. But we will continue to look like a basketball team." The Cavaliers hit 19 3-pointers at Miami, including three by rookie guard Collin Sexton, who finished with 27 points.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Green is 26-of-48 from 3-point range since the All-Star break.
2. Sexton has 13 assists and 15 turnovers over his last three games.
3. Cavaliers PF Larry Nance Jr. (chest) is expected to miss Monday's contest.