Cavs again find another gear, overpower Raptors for 2-0 series lead

CLEVELAND — This one was a lot scrappier, maybe a bit more physical. But just like the first time, the Cavaliers would not be denied.

That pretty much sums up their 115-105 home win over the Toronto Raptors in Game 2 on Monday, giving them a 2-0 first-round series lead. Game 3 is Thursday in Toronto, and the Cavs have done what they’ve had to do. Namely, win two games at home.

As for Monday, every time the Raptors got close, the Cavs found another gear. That tends to happen when you have guys like Donovan Mitchell … or James Harden … and even Evan Mobley. Those three scored a bunch of points, but it truly was a teamwide effort when it came to closing the door.

For starters, the Cavs played the Raptors fairly equally in the intangibles department, and that’s about all they’ll need to do to emerge from this series. They don’t have to beat Toronto at the little things. But they do have to at least match.

“They’re gonna fight, they’re not gonna make it easy for us,” Mobley said.

Mitchell led the way with 30 points, Harden scored 28, and Mobley had 25 and eight rebounds. Perhaps the best note statistically was the fact the Cavs committed just 12 turnovers, forcing Toronto into 22. That’s usually the Raptors’ strength. They usually turn you over. But the Cavs have been winning in that area through the first two games.

Defensively, the Cavs held Raptors standout Brandon Ingram to just seven points on just 3-of-15 shooting. He’s had a miserable six straight quarters.

That, too, says a lot about this series. The Cavs aren’t focused on just outscoring the Raptors. They’ve been willing to do the dirty work against a dirty-work team.

At one point in the fourth quarter, the Raptors fought back from a double-digit deficit to trim the Cavs’ lead to 92-86. Then it was defensive stands, big shots from Mitchell, and a 12-4 run. That was pretty much all she wrote.

Basically, in a series that’s expected to be determined by toughness, the Cavs aren’t backing down. That, and some real stars, has put them in control.

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