Cavs at Raptors, Game 6: Matchup, how to watch, what to expect

What to expect

So now comes the hard part.

Not winning Game 5. Not responding at home. Anybody can do that with their backs against the wall and 20,000 people roaring.

Closing on the road? That’s different. That’s where you find out if you’ve actually learned anything.

The Cavs did some good things in Game 5. They didn’t fold when they fell behind. They defended with purpose again (at least for important stretches). They got just enough structure offensively to keep things from going sideways.

But coach Kenny Atkinson isn’t overthinking it.

“By winning the possession game,” Atkinson said. “It really comes down to that. Are we gonna win the scrums, are we gonna get the rebounds, are we gonna take care of the ball? Otherwise, we’re gonna be back here for a Game 7.”

He’s not wrong.

That’s been the story of the losses. Loose balls. Second chances. A few careless turnovers at the worst possible times. Toronto has made a living there. And the Cavs have paid for it.

This also comes down to Mitchell.

He hasn’t quite looked like himself for most of this series. The burst hasn’t been as consistent. The efficiency hasn’t been there.

And when that happens, everything else gets a little tighter. A little slower. A little more forced. That’s what Toronto wants.

They’ve dragged this series into the mud and said, “Beat us anyway.”

To the Cavs’ credit, they finally did. Now they have to do it again — in a building where they’re 0-2 this series.

“These are high-pressure moments,” Atkinson said. “We kind of passed that mental toughness test. Now the big one is, can we do that on the road?”

You figure Harden will control pace. You hope Mobley and Allen will handle the interior. It probably wouldn’t hurt to get another Dennis Schroder-like performance off the bench.

But if Mitchell looks like Mitchell? This probably ends tonight.

If not? You already know. Game 7. Back home. Pressure all over again. That’s playoff basketball.