The Cleveland Cavaliers moved one win from the second round after defeating the Toronto Raptors 125-120 on Wednesday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, claiming a 3-2 edge in the first-round series.
Key contributions from unexpected sources
Reserve guard Dennis Schroder poured in 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, turning a late deficit into a Cleveland advantage. The veteran shot 3-for-6 from long range, added aggressive defense on 6-foot-9 wing RJ Barrett and provided what head coach Kenny Atkinson called “an edge” the club needed.
Forward Evan Mobley, held to seven points by halftime, stretched Toronto’s defense after the break by drilling all three of his three-point attempts. Mobley finished with 23 points and nine rebounds, giving Cleveland the separation Atkinson said “we needed.”
Steady support from stars
James Harden delivered 23 points, nine rebounds and five assists, offsetting six turnovers. Donovan Mitchell scored 19 on 7-of-17 shooting and banked in a 38-footer to beat the first-quarter buzzer, but again admitted he “hasn’t been himself,” redirecting praise to Schroder and others.
Lineup tweaks and other notes
- Max Strus started in place of Dean Wade to improve floor spacing, Atkinson said. Strus and rookie Jaylon Tyson supplied eight points apiece, while Wade had seven on 3-for-10 shooting.
- Center Jarrett Allen posted nine points and matched his playoff career high with three blocks for the second time this series.
- Sam Merrill added nine points and a team-best plus-19 rating.
Raptors stay close
Barrett led Toronto with 25 points, and rookie Ja’Kobe Walter rebounded from a scoreless Game 4 with 20. Scottie Barnes was limited to 17 on 6-of-16 shooting. Forward Brandon Ingram exited early in the second quarter with a heel injury and is listed as day-to-day.
What’s next
Game 6 is set for Friday at Scotiabank Arena, where Cleveland is 0-2 in the series. “If we win the possession game—rebounds, loose balls, turnovers—we avoid Game 7,” Atkinson said.
Source: Hoops Wire
