Cavs down 61-51 to Raptors at halftime of Game 6 in Toronto
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The Cleveland Cavaliers entered the break trailing the Toronto Raptors, 61-51, in Game 6 of their first-round playoff matchup Friday night at Scotiabank Arena.
Toronto’s top options set the tone early. Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett consistently attacked the rim and combined with accurate perimeter shooting to give the Raptors control. Toronto knocked down 50 percent of its three-point attempts in the opening two quarters.
Cleveland struggled to match that output. Donovan Mitchell managed just 3-for-7 from the field and posted a minus-10 rating before halftime. Fellow guard James Harden—2-for-6 from the floor—added four rebounds and four assists, but the Cavaliers still found themselves outworked on the glass and loose balls.
Turnovers and missed defensive assignments continued to plague Cleveland, even though the overall offensive flow showed flashes of promise. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff repeatedly urged his team to hold its ground inside, where Barnes and Barrett found most of their success.
The game opened with a highlight for the visitors: center Jarrett Allen converted a reverse dunk and hit the court hard on the landing. Allen remained in the contest after shaking off the fall.
Cleveland needs a second-half response to avoid a decisive Game 7. One of the club’s star guards will have to spark that turnaround if the Cavaliers hope to extend their postseason run in Toronto tonight.
Source: Hoops Wire
