Cavaliers muscle past Raptors 114-102 to clinch series in Game 7
cavaliers-muscle-past-raptors-114-102-game-7
The Cleveland Cavaliers shook off season-long questions about their toughness by closing out the Toronto Raptors 114-102 in Game 7 of their first-round matchup on Sunday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Third-quarter surge breaks game open
Trailing 55-53 at halftime, Cleveland seized control with a 38-19 burst in the third period, dominating the glass and setting a physical tone that had eluded the club for much of the season.
Allen leads the charge
Center Jarrett Allen delivered 22 points, 19 rebounds—eight on the offensive end—and three blocks, matching his career postseason high. Head coach Kenny Atkinson called the performance “incredible,” while guard James Harden added, “When he plays like that, we’re a different ballclub.”
Balanced support
Donovan Mitchell matched Allen with 22 points on 9-for-20 shooting. Harden supplied 18, Evan Mobley scored 13, and reserves Sam Merrill and Max Strus contributed 13 and 12, respectively. Jaylon Tyson, Dean Wade and Dennis Schroder also provided key minutes off the bench.
Short-handed Raptors run out of steam
Toronto stayed close behind 24 points from Scottie Barnes—despite persistent foul trouble—and 23 from RJ Barrett. Missing injured scorers Brandon Ingram and Immanuel Quickley, the Raptors could not keep pace in the fourth quarter.
Next up: top-seeded Pistons
The Cavaliers move on to face the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons, a club known for its physical style. “We know what we’re facing—we’ve got our hands full,” Harden said. Atkinson added that Cleveland will need to be “mentally and physically tough” to advance.
The series opener against Detroit has not yet been scheduled.
Source: Hoops Wire
