Barnes, Barrett lead Raptors over Cavaliers in Game 3 |
TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors are going to need some special things to happen if they’re going to upset the heavily favoured Cleveland Cavaliers in their first-round Eastern Conference playoff matchup.
They got plenty of them in their 126-104 Game 3 win at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday night. The victory cut Cleveland’s lead in half at 2-1, and if it hasn’t planted a seed of doubt in their minds, the belief that the Raptors can make themselves heard as the post-season goes along can only be growing.
The list of things that happened for the Raptors to get their first win in the series is long, but among the highlights:
• A career playoff-high 33 points from Scottie Barnes, his third straight new career best in the series and the most impressive yet. He dominated the game on both ends, as he helped disrupt Cleveland’s superstar guard tandem on one end and pound the Cavs mercilessly in the paint at the other. Barnes was 11-of-17 from the floor, 3-of-5 from deep and added 10 assists along with five rebounds.
• A career playoff-high 33 points from RJ Barrett, shining on the same Scotiabank Arena floor that he used to watch the Raptors on in post-seasons past as a youngster growing up in nearby Mississauga. Barrett was 12-of-19 from the floor and 4-of-6 from three, including a pair of triples in the fourth quarter that helped blunt any hope of a Cavaliers' comeback. The Raptors led by two to start the fourth quarter but won the final period 41-20.
• A Raptors playoff rookie record 22 points by Collin Murray-Boyles, who was 11-of-15 from the floor and grabbed eight rebounds in 28 minutes. His block of Cavs big man Jarrett Allen on a dunk attempt will be on the rookies' highlight reel for years.
• A perfect game from little-used wing Jamison Battle, who scored all of his 14 points in the second half, drilling all four of his three-point attempts to help the Raptors blow the game open. He helped the Raptors to a win over Cleveland on Oct. 31 by going 6-of-6 from three in the second half. He’s now 10-of-10 from three against the Cavs on the season.
The Raptors put a focus on disrupting Cleveland’s superstar guard tandem of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. They were averaging 31 and 25 points per game, respectively, after the first two games, but were held to 33 points combined in Game 3.
The Raptors got off to their best start of the series and led 31-25 after the first quarter, made possible by connecting on all five of their three-point attempts and shooting 12-of-17 overall. They were led by Barrett, who spoke earlier in the day about the excitement he was feeling about playing a playoff game for his hometown Raptors after growing up coming to games at Scotiabank Arena from his home in Mississauga.
“It's gonna be crazy in there tonight,” he said. “The atmosphere is gonna be nuts. I'm excited. I had trouble sleeping I was so excited. But this would be a great opportunity for us to play, just play hard in front of our fans, and get a good win. Down two games. Get one tonight and it’s a series.”
Toronto shot 57 per cent from the floor and 14-of-23 from deep, which made up for them converting just 12-of-21 free throws. They harassed Cleveland into 22 turnovers, which the Raptors converted to 23 points. Cleveland shot 44.1 per cent from the floor and 14-of-45 from deep. Harden led them with 18 points but had eight turnovers.
The game remained close throughout — it was tied at halftime — but the Raptors won the fourth quarter going away, and at the very least extended the series. They have a chance to draw even when the Raptors host Game 4 on Sunday at 1 p.m.