Cavs hand Raptors first road loss of season
CLEVELAND -- Channing Frye's 3-pointer from the top of the arc in the final minute lifted the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 121-117 win over Toronto on Tuesday, handing the Raptors their first road loss of the season.
Frye has made 11 3-pointers in his last two games and the Cavs took an early 2-0 lead against the Raptors in the season series, something that could become important when home-court advantage is at stake. These teams met in the conference finals last season and are again two of the best in the East.
With Oscar Robertson watching from close to the Cavs bench, LeBron James fell one rebound shy of a triple-double with 28 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds. He had six assists in the fourth quarter alone. Kevin Love scored 19 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and Kyrie Irving scored 24 points. Frye scored 21 points off the bench.
The Cavs led 91-84 lead entering the fourth, but the reserves plus James couldn't hold it. The Raptors had the lead within the first five minutes, prompting Cavs coach Tyronn Lue to go back to Irving and Love with the Cavs trailing 107-101.
Irving quickly flipped that. His cutting basket off a nifty pass from James, followed by his corner 3-pointer gave the Cavs a 113-112 lead with 1:57 remaining.
After DeMar DeRozan split a pair of free throws to give the Raptors a 115-114 lead, James found Frye at the top of the arc for his fifth 3-pointer of the night. The Cavs made 13 3-pointers in the game, meaning they have made at least 10 3-pointers in each of their first 10 games, an NBA record.
"They're shooting as many 3s as anybody in the league right now," Casey said. "If a team is making 22 or 25 3s, you're going to have a hard night."
DeRozan and Lowry each scored 26 points, marking just the second time in 10 games DeRozan failed to score at least 30. He began the night leading the league in scoring at 34 points per game.
NOTES: Cavaliers G J.R. Smith missed his second game with a sore right ankle. Richard Jefferson started in his place. ... Raptors coach Dwane Casey said the Cavaliers' focus on the 3-pointer has made them more difficult to guard. "They're shooting as many 3s as anybody in the league right now," he said. "If a team is making 22 or 25 3s, you're going to have a hard night." ... The Cavaliers play at the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. ... Raptors F DeMarre Carroll sat out the game to rest. Carroll is coming off knee surgery and not yet cleared to play in back to back games. ... The Raptors host the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.