| |
|
NBA -- LeBron scores 43 to put Raptors in a 2-0 hole
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 04 May 2018
CHICAGO -- LeBron James picked a good time to belt his best performance in these 2018 NBA playoffs.
The four-time NBA MVP sank 19 of 28 field goals and finished with 43 points, eight rebounds and 14 assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers trounced the Toronto Raptors, 128-118, in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Thursday night at the Air Canada Centre.
Cleveland now leads that series, 2-0, with Games 3 and 4 scheduled at the Quicken Loans Arena in Ohio.
Kevin Love was also terrific with 31 points and 11 rebounds while the rest of Cavs supporting cast did their fair share. J.R. Smith scored 15, Jeff Green had 14 and George Hill added 13.
The odds of Toronto getting out of this hole are impossibly long. In the history of the NBA playoffs, teams that have gotten into a 2-0 deficit are 19-273 while LeBron is 21-0 when up 2-0.
DeMar DeRozan led Tornto with 24. Kyle Lowry had 21 and eight dimes while Jonas Valanciunas registered 16 points and 12 boards. Toronto lost despite shooting 54.3 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and 90.9 percent at the free throw stripe.
The Raptors led by nine in the second quarter and nursed a 63-61 halftime bubble. But they fell apart in the third quarter where the Cavs went on an 18-5 spurt and led by as many as 23.
"We stopped defending...We stopped rebounding...We were discombobulated," Raptors head coach Duane Casey told reporters after the Game 2 blowout/
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Don King Productions Announces Challenger for Reigning WBC Cruiserweight World Champion Noel Mikaelian
, Fri, 27 Mar 202611-0 Brooklyn heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor developing his skills at Deontay Wilder and Andrii Novytskyi
, Fri, 27 Mar 2026IBA welcomes the victory of common sense in the IOC policy on protecting women
, Fri, 27 Mar 2026Genetic Testing will be required in Olympic Games
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 27 Mar 2026“Lucky Boy" Alicaba Ready for Action Friday in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 26 Mar 2026WBO & WBA World Champion René “El Chulo” Santiago Hosts Open Media Workout Ahead of April 3 Title Defense in Tokyo
, Thu, 26 Mar 2026Former WBA FEDELATIN President Panamanian Aurelio Fiengo passes away
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 26 Mar 2026The 19th edition of the Kamatyas Rapid Open and Kiddies Chess Tournament on March 28, 2026
By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 26 Mar 2026WIG-WHAM! MILLER PLANS ‘OLD SCHOOL’ BEATING OF PERO IN LAS VEGAS
, Thu, 26 Mar 2026ProBoxTV Bringing a Storm of Flying Leather to Thunder Studios This Saturday, March 28, as Bryan Acosta Collides with Ronny Rios in Crossroads Bantamweight Slugfest
, Thu, 26 Mar 2026Vito Mielnicki Jr. Training Camp Quotes
, Thu, 26 Mar 2026Remembering Mr. Elorde: Still the Gold Standard
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Wed, 25 Mar 2026House of Representatives say yes to the Boxing Revitalization Act and it is now sent to the Senate
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 25 Mar 2026Ryan ‘The Polish Prince’ Kielczweski To return after 4-year layoff to fight at home on Granite Chin’s ‘Rumble at the Rink II’ card
, Wed, 25 Mar 2026Ellaine Summer Abanco wins silver medal on tiebreak
By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 25 Mar 2026Catubig, McDowell win in DC Athletic 4
By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 25 Mar 2026Team Juna wins first competition in IRONMAN 70.3 Davao
By Kim delos Reyes-Teves, , Wed, 25 Mar 2026Round 12: Without Promoters there is no Boxing
By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 25 Mar 2026Mexican female IBF Champion Irma Garcia to defend on April 5 in England
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 25 Mar 202614-0 super middleweight prospect Tommy ‘The Governor’ Hyde to headline April 18th at home in Cork, Ireland
, Wed, 25 Mar 2026MMA legend Jon Jones joins IBA Bare Knuckle as global ambassador
, Wed, 25 Mar 2026GOLDEN BOY SIGNS NEW EXCLUSIVE MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP EXTENSION WITH DAZN
, Wed, 25 Mar 2026“The Takeover” Teofimo Lopez Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
, Wed, 25 Mar 2026Boxlab Promotions Fighters Shine with Statement Victories in Orlando
, Tue, 24 Mar 2026Red Owl Boxing Presents Box Fest XVII on Friday, April 3rd at The Archer Music Hall in Allentown, PA and LIVE on DAZN
, Tue, 24 Mar 2026 |
|
|
|
|
|
