The Cleveland Cavaliers are in full control of their first-round NBA playoff series against the Toronto Raptors after a 115-105 win in Game 2 on Monday night, with their star trio delivering a combined 83 points to move Cleveland to the brink of a series sweep.
Donovan Mitchell led the way with 30 points, James Harden added 28 and Evan Mobley contributed 25 as the Cavs raced into a 2-0 lead.
It is the second consecutive season Cleveland have had three players score at least 25 points in a single playoff game, and the fourth time in franchise history.
Cleveland extend historic run
The win stretched Cleveland’s playoff winning streak against the Raptors to 12 games, matching an NBA postseason record for consecutive victories against a single opponent.
The run dates back to the 2016 Eastern Conference finals and includes four-game sweeps in the second round in 2017 and 2018.
Cleveland never trailed on Monday night, though Toronto did show more fight than in Game 1’s blowout, pulling to within nine points midway through the fourth quarter. Mitchell had the answer, scoring seven straight points to put the contest beyond doubt.
After being held to just three fast-break points in Game 1, the Raptors improved in transition with 16 points on Monday, but 22 turnovers proved too costly a handicap against Cleveland’s firepower.
Mitchell and Harden combined to score or assist on 78 of Cleveland’s 115 points in the game – 68% of the team’s total output.
McCollum silences the Garden as Hawks level series
While the Cavaliers marched on, there was a shock at Madison Square Garden where the Atlanta Hawks levelled their first-round series against the New York Knicks with a 107-106 win in Game 2.
CJ McCollum was the architect of the victory with 32 points and six assists, scoring three critical buckets in the final two minutes including a go-ahead step-back jumper over OG Anunoby with 34 seconds left.
McCollum’s animated exchange with Knicks backup guard Jose Alvarado drew expletive-laced chants from the crowd more commonly directed at former Hawk Trae Young, resulting in offsetting technical fouls. He was unbothered afterwards.
“I’m no villain, I’m a nice guy with two kids and a wife. I think it’s admiration. Great, passionate fans in a hostile environment. It’s fun, it’s basketball, it’s the playoffs. If anything, I think it’s a sign of respect.”
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 14 of his 18 points in the third quarter as the Knicks dominated the middle period, but Atlanta shot 72% in the fourth to overturn the deficit. McCollum missed two free throws with 5.6 seconds left, but Mikal Bridges could not convert a last-gasp fadeaway to rescue New York.
Gobert hits back at critics with dominant display
In the Western Conference, Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert responded to finishing fourth in the Defensive Player of the Year vote in emphatic fashion, holding Nikola Jokic to 1-of-8 shooting in their individual matchup as the Timberwolves beat the Denver Nuggets 119-114 to level their series at 1-1.
Gobert made no secret of his frustration at the voting outcome, in which Victor Wembanyama won unanimously with all 100 first-place votes.
“Not the first time I’ve gotten disrespected. Probably not the last. If you want to disrespect greatness, take it for granted, whatever, soon they’ll realize the impact.”
Jokic scored 24 points in total but was restricted to one shot attempt in the first eight minutes and airballed two jumpers.
He did exploit Gobert’s fourth-quarter absence after the Frenchman picked up his fourth foul, scoring 14 points in seven minutes, but Minnesota held on in the closing stages.
Anthony Edwards scored 30 points despite nursing a right knee issue, and credited Gobert’s defensive presence as the backbone of the team’s performance.
“We’re half the team when he’s on the bench. They don’t understand what he means to us when he’s on the floor. People don’t want to lay the ball up around him. They don’t want to go at Rudy.”
Donte DiVincenzo scored a key late three-pointer to create the separation Minnesota needed, with Jamal Randle adding 24 points for the Timberwolves.
