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Cleveland Cavs score, recap vs Toronto Raptors | Cavaliers rally for 12th win in a row
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- Cleveland Cavs score, recap vs Toronto Raptors | Cavaliers rally for 12th win in a row
CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers recently beat one of the best teams in the NBA with Donovan Mitchell experiencing a rough shooting performance. As an encore, they defeated one of the worst teams in the league Thursday night while the five-time All-Star guard rested.
However, it wasn't easy.
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Coming off a dramatic win over the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder , the Cavs held on for a wild 132-126 win over the Toronto Raptors on the second night of a back-to-back. The Cavs are now 18-0 this season against teams with sub-.500 records and are riding a 12-game winning streak.
The Cavs (33-4) have won three meetings this season with the Raptors ( 8-30).
Here is how the game unfolded through our updates.
Cavs point guard Darius Garland delivers dagger with 39.6 seconds left vs. Raptors
Cavs point guard Darius Garland knows how to strengthen his All-Star candidacy.
With 39.6 seconds left and the Cavs clinging to a two-point lead, Garland made a step-back 3-pointer with Raptors forward Scottie Barnes defending him. The clutch shot gave Cleveland a 129-124 advantage and compelled Toronto to call timeout.
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Coming out of the timeout, Raptors forward Chris Boucher missed a 3-pointer, and Cavs forward Evan Mobley grabbed the rebound. Garland then made two foul shots with 19.6 seconds left to boost the Cleveland lead to 131-124.
Garland scored a game-high 40 points and dished out nine assists. Mobley (21 points, 11 rebounds and six assists) and center Jarrett Allen (18 points and 15 rebounds) each had a double-double.
Barnes led the Raptors with 24 points.
Cavs seize 121-117 lead vs. Raptors with outburst after timeout
Well, Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson knows how to call a timeout at an appropriate juncture.
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Atkinson called timeout with the Cavs behind by a point with 5:33 left. Coming out of the stoppage, small forward Max Strus made a corner 3-pointer, and point guard Darius Garland made a fast-break layup off a steal. The sequence gave the Cavs a 121-117 lead, prompting the Raptors to call timeout with 4:19 remaining.
Raptors lead Cavs 117-116 with 5:33 remaining in the fourth quarter
The Cavs called timeout while facing a 117-116 deficit with 5:33 left in the fourth quarter.
After the Cavs went ahead by a point on a driving layup by guard Caris LeVert , the Raptors countered with guard Gradey Dick 's fast-break layup on an assist from forward RJ Barrett .
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Cavs rally and take 111-109 lead vs. Raptors with 8:37 left in the fourth quarter
LeVert provided the spark the Cavs needed early in the fourth quarter. He made a 3-pointer to tie the score 109-109 with 9:26 remaining. On the next possession, the Raptors committed a 24-second shot clock violation. LeVert then made a jump shot to give the Cavs a 111-109 edge with 8:45 left.
Behind by two points, the Raptors called timeout with 8:37 remaining.
Cavaliers, Raptors score: Toronto leads entering fourth quarter
The Raptors continue to pour it on a sluggish Cavaliers defense, and Toronto will take a 103-98 lead into the final quarter.
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Chris Boucher is up to a team-high 23 points. Darius Garland has a game-high 26 along with six assists. Jarrett Allen is up to 17 points and 13 rebounds.
Jan 9, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Toronto Raptors forward Chris Boucher (25) blocks a shot by Cleveland Cavaliers forward Georges Niang (20) in the first quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Raptors open up double-digit lead over Cavaliers in third quarter
If there was ever low-energy, trap-style game on the schedule, this was it with the Cavs coming off a 129-122 win over OKC last night.
The Cavs defense has been a bit late in some rotations, leading to more open shot attempts than normal, and Toronto now leads 89-78 with 5:28 left in the third quarter. Chris Boucher and RJ Barrett have led the way for the Raptors with 17 and 16 points, respectively.
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Garland, Mobley and Allen have all had strong nights, but the Cavs haven't received much outside of that trio.
In a rare occurrence, the Cavs bench is being vastly outscored, 38-14.
Jan 9, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) stands near the bench in the first quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Cavaliers, Raptors tied at halftime
The Cavs and Raptors will enter the locker rooms at halftime tied 61-61.
Garland, Allen and Mobley all had strong first halves for the Cavs. Garland has a team-high 15 points to go with five assists. Allen already has a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Mobley has 13 points, including two 3s, along with three rebounds and two assists.
Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (19) and Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) look to rebound on Jan. 9, 2025, in Cleveland.
Jarrett Allen throws down reverse dunk after steal against Raptors; See the video
Jarrett Allen is bolstering his All-Star case tonight.
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Allen dominated the last few minutes to lead the Cavs back, as they've tied it 48-48 with 4:28 to go. He's now up to 13 points and 10 rebounds.
He also just tipped a passed into the back court, chased it down and on a fastbreak threw down a reverse dunk to tie it.
Jan 9, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) drives to the basket beside Toronto Raptors guard Jamal Shead (23) in the first quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Who's winning the Cavaliers-Raptors game?
The Cavs just haven't been as crisp on either side of the ball thus far, and Toronto leads 43-37 with 6:49 left in the second quarter.
Darius Garland has 10 points and two assists. Jarrett Allen already has seven points and seven rebounds.
Kelly Olynyk , who hurt Kevin Love in the playoffs a decade ago, is still being heavily booed in Cleveland.
Raptors lead Cavaliers after first quarter
Coming off of a high-intensity win over the Thunder, some sluggishness on this back-to-back was to be expected, and that was evident in a first quarter in which the Cavs gave up 33 points, as they trail Toronto 33-27 heading to the second quarter.
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The Raptors are shooting 61 percent from the floor, and they're already hit 5 of their 10 3-point attempts.
For the Cavs, Evan Mobley leads the way with eight points.
Jan 9, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) stands on the court in the first quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Cavs, Raptors score: Cleveland takes an early lead
The Cavs have taken an early 14-11 lead nearly midway through the first quarter, highlighted by a really nice play by Darius Garland.
Garland drove the lane and, while under the basket, swung a pass around two Toronto defenders to give Jarrett Allen an easy dunk.
Garland already has six points tonight, along with that nifty assist, in what could be a high-scoring game for him with Mitchell resting.
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Here is some pregame information:
Cavs injury report
In addition to the Cavs ruling out Mitchell due to rest, they initially listed backup guard Sam Merrill (sprained right ankle) as questionable to play. Later, the Cavs announced Merrill will be available against the Raptors.
Cleveland Cavaliers column: Cavs beat Thunder on national stage, reinforce they're championship-caliber team
Raptors injury report
The Raptors have ruled out guard Ochai Agbaji (left hip pointer) and listed guard Davion Mitchell (left calf contusion) as probable to play.
Nov 24, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) drives to the basket against Toronto Raptors forward Jonathan Mogbo (2) during the first half at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Cleveland Cavaliers broadcast information. How can I watch on TV, listen on radio or stream the Cavs, Raptors game?
Thursday'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).
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Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs score vs Raptors, Darius Garland delivers in clutch for Cleveland
