The Toronto Raptors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers last night again: the third time this season.
Pascal Siakam had an impressive night with 26 points and nine assists, and O.G. Anunoby added 26 points of his own, as the Toronto Raptors came away with a 118-107 impressive win over Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night. It is official: Raptors are the first Eastern Conference team that has won in Cleveland this season.
We defied the odds to become the first Eastern Conference team to win in Cleveland this season. The victory was a testament win for us. It was a reminder of who we are and who we can be. By committing to one another and giving all you've got, you can rise above any adversities and emerge triumphant. The awe-inspiring performance will motivate us for Tuesday night's game against some old friends, Kawhi and Norm of the LA Clippers.
It was good to see Gary back on the court last night, the Raptors adopted a relentless strategy from the start of the game. Despite still dealing with crucial absentees in Precious Achiuwa, Khem Birch, and Otto Porter Jr., we are somehow finding our way through this challenging season with poise and determination.
Commitment to overcoming any challenge is centralized as the core philosophy of Raptors. Persistence over hardship pays dividends when optimism reigns highest and spurs unstoppable progress regardless of handicaps cast against them. This demonstrably faithful approach puts us in an excellent position to battle through this up-and-down season.
Pascal, OG, Fred and Scottie were all key Contributors last night!
Scottie Barnes was also instrumental in Toronto's victory, scoring 25 points, while Fred VanVleet chipped in 18 of his own, helping the Raptors overcome their opponents for the third time this season. The reigning rookie of the year looked like a man on a mission last night. We need more games like last night's from Scottie moving forward.
The Raptors shot the ball very well throughout, going 19-for-37 from 3-point range—a season-high for them—with Anunoby himself tying his career-best by hitting six of them. Raptors' 3-point shooting at 51.4% was absolutely impressive, to say the least, considering they entered the game as the worst 3-point shooting team in the NBA, 32.2%.
The combination of Siakam, Anunoby and Barnes proved to be a potent one in this game, with all three players surpassing the 25-point mark; Pascal and OG were very good at both ends of the floor, while Scottie put up a solid performance with his 25 points and 10 rebounds following a dud against the Knicks just days ago. All combined to give Toronto their third win in three games against Cleveland this season.
Donovan Mitchell struggles and excuses against the Raptors
Again, Donovan Mitchell had a tough night against the Toronto Raptors as Cleveland fell to 16-3 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Thanks to OG and the Raptors' defensive strategy, Mitchell could not get anything going offensively. Last night was a great example of what the Raptors can be, a defensive juggernaut in the NBA under Nick Nurse's philosophy. Nick Nurse is famous for crafting the ultimate defensive strategy: How to stop even Donovan Mitchell of the world and stifle anyone you face.
On the other hand, rather than gracefully taking the loss, Donovan Mitchell complained about an imaginary situation he had invented, claiming that the Raptors "foul the whole game." Donovan needs to learn how to be gracious in defeat and accept the loss without resorting to complaining and baseless accusations.
Donovan Mitchell was full of excuses after the game. Despite other scorers having solid games, with Darius Garland getting 17 points and eight assists and Isaac Okoro with 15 points, Mitchell couldn't produce, and Cleveland couldn't keep up. This defeat makes them 4-1 on their current six-game homestand.
Fired-up. That's how it looks for the Raptors: a team getting hot in a hurry, with momentum building and confidence growing.
Winning streaks can radically shift the mood of a team, and the Raptors are no exception. Players are contributing on both sides of the ball, rebounding is improving and scoring is up. It's an invigorated squad that feels ready to take on any challenge.
An energetic group that moves together as one unified unit—no single member overly dominating—gives off an exciting vibe of seamless play. That electrifying atmosphere carries over to the coaching staff and fans alike as everyone cheers louder and louder in support of their team.
And if history repeats itself, then this could be the beginning of something special for the Raptors; led by the fierce drive and contagious enthusiasm, those comparisons to former great teams might soon be justified after all! Let's get the streak going!!!
