LeBron James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for second on the all-time playoff scoring list in a 125-103 rout of the Toronto Raptors in game two of the Eastern Conference semi-finals Wednesday night. Cleveland led by as much as 30 points in the blowout.
James dropped 39 points (10-14 FG, 4-6 3Pt, 15-21 FT), while adding six rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks over 36 minutes of action.
This game was quite similar to game one. Cleveland dominated on both ends of the floor all game long, holding all-star DeMar DeRozan to just five points (2-11 FG, 1-3 FT) and three assists.
Kyrie Irving had a poor shooting night (6-19 FG) but finished with 22 points and 11 assists in 30 minutes. Channing Frye gave the Cavs a much needed spark off the bench with 18 points (6-9 FG, 5-7 3Pt, 1-2 FT) and five rebounds. Frye picked up the slack left by Kevin Love, who only scored nine.
Raptors head coach Dwane Casey mixed up his starting lineup this time, inserting Patrick Patterson and Norman Powell in place of DeMarre Carroll and Jonas Valanciunas.
Valanciunas turned out to be the only beneficiary of this lineup change. The big man contributed 23 points (10-13 FG, 3-5 FT) in 20 minutes off the bench. Valanciunas nearly doubled his postseason-high (12) set back in game four of the first round against Milwaukee.
Patterson, Powell, Carroll, and PJ Tucker all struggled to make an impact however. The four combined for just 11 points (4-18 FG, 1-11 3Pt combined) in 77 minutes of floor time. Toronto will need these three to step it up if they hope to turn this series around.
Cory Joseph added 22 points (9-14 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT) but most of these came during garbage time in the fourth quarter. Even though these points were meaningless in this game, the Raptors should be intrigued by Joseph’s play.
Kyle Lowry was the only true bright spot, providing 20 points (7-12 FG, 2-2 3Pt, 4-5 FT) and five assists in 29 minutes of action. The Raptors will need both Lowry and DeRozan to put up consistent numbers like these if Toronto hopes to make a comeback.
The series moves to Toronto for games three and four, continuing Friday.
Series Schedule and Results: Cavaliers lead 2-0
Game 1 (5/1): Cavaliers 116, Raptors 105
Game 2 (5/3): Cavaliers 125, Raptors 103
Game 3 (5/5): Cavaliers @ Raptors, 7 PM ET, ESPN
Game 4 (5/7): Cavaliers @ Raptors, 3:30 PM ET, ABC
Game 5 (5/9, if nec.): Raptors @ Cavaliers, TBA, TNT
Game 6 (5/11, if nec.): Cavaliers @ Raptors, TBA, ESPN
Game 7 (5/14, if nec.): Raptors @ Cavaliers, TBA, TNT
