Cavaliers Beat Raptors 116-78 In Game 5, Take Series Lead

The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Toronto Raptors 116-78 at home in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday to gain a 3-2 series lead.

Cavaliers Beat Raptors 116-78 In Game 5, Take Series Lead

Kevin Love made his first six shots and led the Cavaliers with 25 points (in 24 minutes), 19 of which came in the first half. LeBron James scored 23 points, eight assists, six rebounds, two steals, and Kyrie Irving also added 23 points, as well as three steals.

“(Kevin’s) confidence never wavered,” Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said of Love. “He knew exactly what he had to do. We talked about it. I just want Kevin to continue to be aggressive. I don’t care about missed shots. Take your shots when you have them, be aggressive and that’s what he did.”

The Cavs sank shot after shot from the very beginning at Quicken Loans Arena, going on a 27-6 run in the first half, making 12-of-13 shots, and gaining a 31-point lead going into halftime.

By late in the third quarter, James, Love and Irving had outscored the Raptors 68-57, and they combined to score 71 of Cleveland’s first 95 points.

“We want to come out with the mindset and the understanding of how important this game is to both teams and have a sense of urgency from the beginning,” James said after Cleveland’s morning shoot-around. James also made 10-of-17 shots on Wednesday and is shooting 63.2% and averaging 24.6 points in the series.

The Cavaliers’ 65-34 halftime lead was the largest margin in NBA conference finals history, as well as the worst loss in Raptors playoff history.

“The force that they play with here is different. We didn’t’ meet it,” Toronto head coach Dwane Casey said. “They took us out of everything we wanted to do – physically pushed us around.”

Asked what he would bring to the game, James said, “Just a sense of calmness. That’s all. Just a very calm moment for myself, personally. I relish this opportunity to be a part of the postseason once again, to be 2-2 on my home floor, so, a sense of calmness. I think they’ll follow that.”

In the end, Cleveland shot 57.1 percent from the field and 47.6 percent on three-pointers.

Toronto shot 39.1% from the field and 17.6% on three-pointers, and after scoring a combined 67 points in Game 4, guards Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan struggled. DeRozan was just 2-of-8 and Lowry 5-of-12, including 1-of-4 on threes. The pair combined for just 27 points this time around.

The Cavs continually attacked the two Toronto guards off screens, usually trapping them into turning the ball over or move away from the basket, and it worked: Cleveland forced 11 turnovers in the first half alone.

Game 6 is set for Friday at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

CLEVELAND, OH – MAY 25: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball in the second half against DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Toronto Raptors in game five of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 25, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Article by Pablo Mena