Cavaliers look disinterested in 126-113 loss to the Raptors
BY TIM SHIRER
CAVS BET WRITER
(CLEVELAND, OH) - The Cleveland Cavaliers (8-5, 4-2) returned to Rocket Arena on Thursday night after a two-game series in Miami against the Heat. The Cavs, who were close to full strength on Monday lost the first game of the two-game set 140-138 in overtime on a last second defensive lapse. Wednesday the Cavs were shorthanded missing Darius Garland (left great toe), Donovan Mitchell (rest), Evan Mobley (rest), Max Strus (left foot surgery) and somehow Cleveland pulled off an improbable 130-116 win over the same Heat team that beat them on Monday. Jarrett Allen had what was possibly his best game since joining the Cavs with 30 points and 10 rebounds in the win. But the bench including Craig Porter, Jr, Nae’Qwan Tomlin, Tyrese Proctor and Luke Travers came up huge for Cleveland.
Thursday night Mitchell and Mobley were back as the Cavs hosted the Raptors (7-5, 5-3 road) in the first of a six game homestand running through November 23. The Raptors handed the Cavs their only home loss of the young season on Halloween when they easily defeated a shorthanded Cavs team 112-101. The Cavs were relatively healthy for this contest, but the result was the same as the Raptors easily beat the Cavs 126-113.
Prior to the start of the contest the Cavaliers held a moment of silence for Former Cavs player (1972-74) and coach (1986-1993). After that moment of silence, the crowd spontaneously erupted into applause for the greatest coach in Cavaliers’ history.
The game was close early as with 8:23 left in the opening quarter Immanuel Quickly hit a three pointer to give Toronto a 9-7 lead. The Cavs tied the game 9-9 just nine seconds later when Mitchell was fouled and hit two of three free throws. Mitchell then put the Cavs on top 11-9 with 7:58 left when he was again fouled and hit both free throws. Mitchell made his third trip to the foul line only 4:23 into the game and hit both, giving the Cavs an advantage 13-9. After both the Cavs and Raptors turned the ball over Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic took a timeout. With 4:41 left in the first the Cavs took a 21-14 lead when De’Andre Hunter drove the lane to score. Then with 2:59 left in the quarter the Cavs lead ballooned to 10 points when Mitchel scored, was fouled and hit the freebie to give the Cavs a 27-17 lead. The Raptors then turned the tables on the Cavs and went on a 9-0 run over the next 1:40 cutting Cleveland’s lead to 27-26. As time ran out in the opening quarter the Cavs clung to a 30-29 lead. Mitchell led all scorers with nine first quarter points. Scottie Branes paced the Raptors with seven in the first 12 minutes. The Cavs shot 43% (9 of 21) in the first quarter while the Raptors shot 52% (11 of 21). The Cavs, however, went to the free throw line 11 times and hit on 9 of them while the Raptors went to the charity stripe just twice hitting both. The Raptors out rebounded the Cavs 12-9 in the first quarter.
The Raptors took the lead, and it then increased to 37-30 with 9:33 remaining in the first half when Barnes was fouled by Tomlin after hitting the jumper. With 7:54 left in the second quarter the Raptors took a 43-34 lead when Gradey Dick hit from long range. With 4:09 left after the Cavs had cut the Toronto lead to 52-47 Porter blocked an RJ Barrett layup and the sellout crowd ignited. The Raptors responded by hitting their next two shots to take a 56-47 lead. The Cavs cut the lead to 58-52 with 2:03 left in the second quarter when Sam Merrill drained a three. Every time the Cavs looked like they were going to chip away at the Raptors lead they responded and with 1:25 left the Toronto lead was back at 10 when Jakob Poeltl scored in the paint. As the quarter ended the Cavs looked flat out disinterested and the raptors took 67-54 lead into the locker room. Barnes led all scorers in the first half with 16 points. Hunter led the Cavs with a pedestrian 12. The Raptors shot 66% (14 of 21) in the second quarter finishing the half shooting 60% (25 of 42). Meanwhile the Cavs shot 44% (19 of 43) from the field. The Raptors also out the Cavs 56% (9 of 16) to 30% (7 of 23) from behind the three-point line. After the Cavaliers went to the free throw line 11 times in the opening quarter, they didn’t take one foul shot in the second quarter while the Raptors went 6 for 6 from the charity stripe in the quarter to finish the half 8 for 8. As has been the case in 8 of the 12 games this season entering tonight’s contest the Cavs were out rebounded in the opening half 21-15.
The third quarter started like most of the first half with the Cavs looking like they didn’t realize there was a game being played as the Raptors took a 71-54 lead just 1:29 into the quarter. Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson had seen enough and took a timeout. With 6:28 left in the quarter the Cavs showed some signs of life as Mitchell cut the lead to 78-67 when he hit a jumper in front of the Cavs bench. The Cavs cut the lead after a couple reviews near the end of the quarter and trailed 90-85 when time ran out. Mitchell was leading all scorers with 23 points. Barnes was leading the Raptors with 18.
The Cavs defense could not stop the Raptors. Every time the Cavs scored Toronto responded on the other end. With 7:53 left in the game and Toronto leading 106-95, Atkinson took a timeout. With 6”15 left the Cavs cut the lead to 110-101 and then forced a Toronto turnover but could not take advantage and the Raptors responded at the other end with a three to take a 113-101 lead with 5:44. By the 4:08 mark it was clear that the Cavs were not going to recover and the games would be a loss. Speaking to an NBA executive before the game he commented that games like this are more commonplace nowadays as the talent pool is better and teams are more concerned about the postseason than regular season contests. With 2:22 left the remaining starters for Cleveland were pulled by Atkinson during a timeout as they conceded the game. One thing that was very apparent now through two games against Toronto is it’s not a good matchup for the Cavaliers. Although Garland has not played in either game.
Mitchell led all scorers in a losing effort with 31 points. Scottie Barnes led the Raptors with 28, Quickley had 25 and Poeltl finished with 20 for Toronto.
In short, the Cavs were outplayed in every single phase of the game including rebounds as they were out rebounded for the ninth time in 13 games this season this time 43-37.
The Cavs will be back in action on Saturday afternoon with a rare 5 pm start as they welcome the Memphis Grizzlies (4-9, 1-4 road) to Cleveland. The Cavs lead the all-time series 36-21 and are 22-6 at home. The Cavs have won the last five meetings dating back to the 2022-23 season..
POSTED 11/13/2025 21:56
Lake County Sentinel
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Cavs big man Dae'Qwan Tomlin scores two of his career high 18 points in the Cavs 126-113 loss to the Toronto Raptors Thursday night at Rocket Arena. Photo by Tommy Shirer
