Dribbles: Cavs Roll Raptors And Into Break With Best Mark In Franchise History

February 12, 2025

Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ 131-108 blowout road win over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday. …

1. That was even easier than expected. And it was supposed to be fairly easy.

2. Anyway, this is how you want to go into the All-Star break — with the best record in franchise history. That’s right. This is the first time the Cavaliers (44-10) have been this dominant in 54 games.

3. Not bad when you consider the franchise has been around for 55 years. Cleveland basketball fans, we have witnessed history.

4. I’ve said and written this already this season, but it’s worth repeating. I’ve been covering the Cavs full-time since 2007 (with the exception of a brief break in 2021). This is the most fun it’s been from a professional standpoint. The locker room is always tons of fun and there isn’t a single big ego in there.

5. OK, enough heartwarming hot takes for now. This marked the second straight game in which we all pretty much knew the outcome by the start of the second quarter. Against Minnesota the other night, the Cavs led 16-0. Against the Raptors, they led 41-17 at the end of the first.

6. Max Strus got things started with four 3-pointers in the first quarter. Newcomer De’Andre Hunter came to life later, finishing with 18 points. Sam Merrill also hit four threes on his way to 16.

7. Seven guys finished in double figures for the Cavs overall, with Donovan Mitchell scoring a game-high 21. Darius Garland scored 15, Strus 14, Jarrett Allen 13 and Evan Mobley 12. Mobley snared 15 rebounds; Allen had 10.

8. But those are just numbers and barely tell the story of just how much the Cavs dominated. They once led by 39.

9. Coach Kenny Atkinson to reporters on Hunter: “He’s all the things we thought he was (when trading for him).”

10. That would be a true 3-and-D wing who can really heat things up off the bench. Hunter killed the Cavaliers this season in three games with the Atlanta Hawks. He came off the bench on this night, backing up Strus, and didn’t skip a beat. If anything, Hunter was even better than last time.

11. The Raptors (17-38) are headed to the lottery, likely even after Brandon Ingram finally joins the team. They were led by RJ Barrett‘s 27 points.

12. As an aside, the Hawks lost their first game since acquiring Georges Niang and Caris LeVert — and barely at that. It came in New York on Wednesday, in overtime, with the Knicks holding on for a 149-148 win. Niang scored 21 on 8-of-16 shooting; LeVert had 20 on 8-of-13. Good to see our old friends doing well.

13. As for the Cavs, they should be even better and well-positioned for a deep playoff run. You knew that already. But it may be even more true after the Hunter trade.

14. So it’s off to San Francisco for the All-Star game. Garland will also be the ninth member of the Cavs to participate in the 3-point contest. He joins Mitchell, Kyrie Irving (four times), Booby Gibson (twice), Damon Jones, Wesley Person, Bob Sura, Mark Price (four times) and Craig Ehlo (twice). Price is a three-time champ.

15. Also feel free to impress your friends with this dose of trivia: Only one Cav has participated in both the 3-point and dunk contests. That man is Sura.

16. So the Cavs are rolling into the break, with their next game not coming until a week from Thursday at Brooklyn (Feb. 20). Then, things will get even more real as they make their final push toward the playoffs. Until then, kick back, relax and just enjoy it. The best still may be yet to come.