Cavs outworked at home as Raptors roll 126-113
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The Cleveland Cavaliers were overpowered by the Toronto Raptors, 126-113, on Thursday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, dropping to 8-5 on the season and 0-2 against Toronto.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson said his club’s “energy level” never matched Toronto’s. “Their energy was up here and we were down here,” he told reporters, adding that the Cavaliers looked “stuck in mud” throughout the game.
Guard Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points but shot just 7-for-18 from the floor and 2-for-9 from beyond the arc. Forward Evan Mobley, who averages 20.1 points, attempted only seven shots and finished with seven points. “Evan was part of the group that didn’t have the highest energy,” Atkinson said, noting the team must “do a better job of getting him the ball.”
The game came on the second night of a back-to-back for Cleveland, though Mitchell and Mobley had rested during Wednesday’s win in Miami. Center Jarrett Allen, who scored 30 the previous night, managed six points and eight rebounds. Two-way rookie NaeQwan Tomlin provided a bright spot with 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting, while De’Andre Hunter added 16 and Sam Merrill had 12.
Cleveland again played without Darius Garland (toe) and Jaylon Tyson (concussion). Atkinson labeled Garland “day-to-day” and Tyson “to be determined.”
For Toronto (7-5), Scottie Barnes led the way with 28 points, and Immanuel Quickley scored 25 on 10-of-13 shooting. The Raptors have now won both meetings in Cleveland this season.
Atkinson emphasized the need to be “physically better” and welcomed a Friday off before the Cavaliers begin a five-game homestand without any back-to-backs. The stretch opens Saturday at 5 p.m. ET against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Source: Hoops Wire
