In a closely contested matchup, Darius Garland’s 24 points and eight assists, combined with Max Strus’s explosive third quarter, propelled the Cleveland Cavaliers (9-8) to a 105-102 victory over the Toronto Raptors (8-9) on Sunday night.
Strus emerged as a key contributor for the Cavaliers, scoring all of his 20 points in a dominant third quarter. Strus’s remarkable performance, including four 3-pointers, played a pivotal role in the Cavaliers’ comeback from a 10-point deficit.
Despite Dennis Schroder’s late-game heroics with seven points in the final 95 seconds for the Raptors, the Cavaliers managed to hold off the comeback attempt.
Toronto had an opportunity to force overtime on their last possession, but a crucial step out of bounds by Gary Trent Jr. thwarted their chances.
Jakob Poeltl led the Raptors with season highs of 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Pascal Siakam contributed 18 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Scottie Barnes added 15 points and eight rebounds for Toronto.
Jarrett Allen’s 18 points and Evan Mobley’s double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds played a significant role in securing the victory for the Cavaliers. Cleveland, now 1-2 on their five-game homestand, bounced back after loss to the Lakers on Saturday night.
The win against the Raptors marked a crucial victory for Cleveland, snapping a two-game losing streak and providing momentum as they continue their homestand.
