CLEVELAND — In a way, the Cavaliers took a trip down memory lane Sunday night by facing the opponent they played first during their historic 2024-25 season.
It proved to be a pleasant experience for the Cavs because they defeated the Toronto Raptors 122-108 to improve to a perfect 10-0 at home.
The Cavs opened this season with a 136-106 win at Toronto on Oct. 23. No one knew it at the time, but the victory set in motion Cleveland's 15-game winning streak , which established a franchise record and tied two other teams for the second-best start to a season in NBA history.
A 120-117 loss at the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics ended the Cavs' unprecedented run Tuesday, but Cleveland rebounded Wednesday with a 128-100 triumph over the New Orleans Pelicans . A much-needed, three-day break ensued for the Cavs, who played their first 17 games in 29 days.
More Cavs news: Cleveland Cavaliers commend Ty Jerome for 'dominant' start to this season after he missed almost all of 2023-24
Here's how the 17-1 Cavs' win over the 4-13 Raptors unfolded through our live updates in Cleveland .
Cavs defeat Raptors 122-108, prevailing over Toronto for the second time this season
For the seventh time this season, the Cavs had three players score 20-plus points in a game.
Guard Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting from the floor (5 of 9 on 3-pointers).
Guard Ty Jerome came off the bench for the Cavs and scored 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field (4 of 8 on 3-pointers).
Center Jarrett Allen finished with his team-leading 13th double-double this season (23 points and 13 rebounds).
Point guard Darius Garland added 16 points with six assists, and forward Evan Mobley added 14 points to go along with 11 rebounds. It was Mobley's seventh double-double this season and third in the last four games.
Guards Scottie Barnes and Gradey Dick led the Raptors with 18 points apiece. Dick left the game in the fourth quarter with left calf soreness and didn't return.
Cavs lead Raptors 112-98 with 6:02 left in the fourth quarter
The Cavs outscored the Raptors 16-8 through the first half of the fourth quarter and led 112-98 during a Cleveland timeout with 6:02 remaining. Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson used the timeout after Barnes nailed a 3-pointer.
Cavs regain complete control by starting the fourth quarter on a 10-1 run
Mitchell scored the Cavs' first seven points of the fourth quarter, and Jerome followed by draining a 3-pointer with 9:23 remaining. The sequence gave the Cavs a 10-1 run to start the final quarter and a 106-91 lead against the Raptors, who called timeout immediately after Jerome's 3-pointer.
Cavs lead Raptors 96-90 at the end of the third quarter
An 8-0 run late in the third quarter allowed the Raptors to slice the Cavs' lead to 92-89 with less than a minute remaining before the fourth quarter.
Then Jerome made a floater with 41 seconds left, Raptors forward RJ Barrett split a pair of free throws with 31.7 seconds left and Mobley dunked the ball on assist from Mitchell with 0.8 seconds left.
The result? The Cavs led 96-90 entering the fourth quarter.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Darius Garland lifts Cavaliers to 14-point advantage in the third quarter
The Cavs went ahead 80-66 when Garland made 3-pointers on back-to-back Cleveland possessions. The Raptors response? They called timeout with 7:21 left in the third quarter and facing a 14-point deficit.
The first of the two 3-pointers went through the hoop with 7:42 left in the third quarter, and Garland became the 14th player in franchise history to reach 6,000 career points.
Garland continues to look good despite experiencing an injury scare early in the game (see more below).
Cavs extend lead to 73-57 with 10:24 left in the third quarter
The Cavaliers went on an 8-0 run early in the third quarter to seize a 73-57 lead during a Raptors timeout with 10:24 left in the third quarter.
Mitchell and forward Isaac Okoro made 3-pointers on consecutive Cavs possessions, compelling the Raptors to discuss it during a timeout.
Cavs lead Raptors 65-55 at halftime
The Cavs led the Raptors 65-55 at halftime, with guard Jerome giving Cleveland a major boost by scoring 17 points off the bench. Jerome would have had 20 points at halftime if a 3-pointer hadn't gone in and out right before time expired in the second quarter.
Cavs center Jarrett Allen ranked second among all scorers at halftime with 15 points. He also had five rebounds.
The Cavs were outscored 33-27 in the second quarter, but they finished the first half strong.
Dick led the Raptors with 12 points through two quarters.
Cavs have their lead vs Raptors reduced to 45-37
The Cavs led the Raptors 45-37 during a Toronto timeout with 6:42 left in the second quarter.
The Cavs had led by as many as 16 points, an advantage they held entering the second quarter.
Cavs lead Raptors 38-22 at the end of the first quarter
The Cavs led the Raptors 38-22 at the end of the first quarter. The Cavs scored the final five points of the opening quarter in the last 30 seconds. Mobley made a dunk on assist from guard Sam Merrill . Mobley then registered steal and returned the favor to Merrill with an assist on a Merrill fast-break 3-pointer.
Allen led the Cavs with 13 points and guard Jerome added 10 in the first quarter.
Toronto Raptors trail Cleveland Cavaliers 25-11 with 4:37 left in the first quarter
Jerome came off the bench and scored five points in less than two minutes. His 3-pointer and layup on consecutive Cleveland possessions gave the Cavs a 25-11 lead and prompted the Raptors to use a timeout with 4:37 remaining in the first quarter.
With Jarrett Allen rolling, Cleveland Cavs lead Raptors 17-9 with 6:31 left in the first quarter
Allen made his first five shots — four field goals and a free throw — for nine points roughly midway through the first quarter. The Cavs led 17-9 during a Cleveland timeout with 6:31 remaining in the opening quarter.
Cavs point guard Darius Garland appears to hurt ankle but stays in the game vs. Raptors
Garland appeared to hurt his right ankle while driving to the basket just before Cleveland used a timeout with 8:42 left in the first quarter. The good news for the Cavs is Garland remained in the game. He made a 3-pointer with 7:43 left in the opening quarter to give them a 15-7 lead.
Here is some pregame information:
How the Cleveland Cavs can continue to pursue another record vs. the Toronto Raptors
The Cavs have yet to lose at home this season, and a win over the Raptors would make them 10-0 in Cleveland.
So what is the team record for the longest home winning streak in the regular season? It's 23 games spanning Oct. 30, 2008, to Feb. 3, 2009.
The last time the Cavs won 10 or more consecutive home games was from Nov. 7, 2017, to Jan. 2, 2018, when they produced a 13-game winning streak in Cleveland.
What is the injury report for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors? Isaac Okoro returns
The Cavs ruled out guard Caris LeVert (left knee inflammation), small forward Max Strus (sprained right ankle) and forward Dean Wade (sprained left ankle). They also listed small forward Isaac Okoro (sprained left ankle) as questionable to play, but he is officially available to face the Raptors. Okoro had missed the previous two games.
The Cavs announced Okoro will start along with "the core four" of guards Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, forward Evan Mobley and center Jarrett Allen.
The Raptors have ruled out Bruce Brown (return to competition reconditioning), Kelly Olynyk (back; lumbar strain) and Immanuel Quickley (left elbow; partial UCL tear). They have listed Bruno Fernando (sprained right ankle) as questionable.
Cleveland Cavaliers column: Donovan Mitchell nurturing the Cavs' potential while preserving his health are keys to lofty team goals
How can I watch, listen, stream Cavs vs. Raptors game?
Sunday's game can be watched locally on the FanDuel Sports Network . It can be heard on the radio via WMMS (100.7-FM) and WTAM (1100-AM).
More on the Cavs' hot start this season: Coach Kenny Atkinson's former Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets players see direct approach paying off
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs score win over Raptors, Cleveland remains undefeated at home

