| |
|
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:
Meinke-Vargas IBF Featherweight Female World Championship Set for 12 rounds?
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 10 Mar 2026Ruiz and Veloz Earn Dominant Wins on Opening Day of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
, Tue, 10 Mar 2026Top Rank Signs Undefeated Lightweight Prospect Sammy Contreras
, Tue, 10 Mar 2026153 swimmers safely complete Davao-Samal-Davao Cross Channel
By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 10 Mar 2026Leading World Cruiserweight Contender Ryan ‘The Bruiser’ Rozicki returns from 15-month layoff with another overpowering KO
, Mon, 09 Mar 2026Roca, Bernardino share top honors in Tea Block rapid chess tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 08 Mar 2026Fastpitch Softball on March 20-22 in Calinan
By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 08 Mar 2026Opetaia vs Glanton: Dana White Crowns First Boxing Champion. Is Fight Worthy?
By Chris Carlson, , Sun, 08 Mar 2026In Thrilling Showdown, Pagara Falls Short Against Polkinghorn by Points.
, Sun, 08 Mar 2026Unofficial Unification Tournament Brewing For Welterweights
By Ralph Rimpell, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026Fight Results from Montreal: Steven Butler Obliterates Ramadan Hiseni; Wins by Lenar Perez, Jhon Orobio and Steve Claggett
By Eric Armit, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026Former Champ Junior Makabu visits WBC offices in Mexico City
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026WEIGHTS FROM SYDNEY, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA
, Sat, 07 Mar 2026Weights from Atlantic City
, Sat, 07 Mar 2026PFL Releases Francis Ngannou
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026Polkinghorn, Pagara at the Scales in Perth, Australia
By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026Young Briton Rising Star: Callum Dan's Quest for Boxing Glory
By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026Chua rules Pattaya Open; pockets $22,500
By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026All Star Boxing live on ESPN DEPORTES Weights from Nicaragua
, Fri, 06 Mar 2026Ryan Rozicki’s Return: Presser Quotes from Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
, Fri, 06 Mar 2026Undefeated Heavyweight Gustavo “The Cuban Assassin” Trujillo Returns to Headline “Havoc at the Hilton 3” March 7 in Florida
, Fri, 06 Mar 2026AQ Prime Chess bet Marius Zabanal Constante of Pasig City rules Elementary Division of NCR Palarong Pambansa Standard chess elims
By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 06 Mar 2026World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Battles Mexican Strongman Manuel Gallegos
, Fri, 06 Mar 2026USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Travels to Thailand for 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
, Fri, 06 Mar 2026Eddie Hearn Signs UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall for New Matchroom Talent Agency
, Fri, 06 Mar 2026 |
|
|
|
|
|
