| |
|
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:
'The Comeback' Weigh-In results and confirmed Fight Night running order as AJ faces Prenga
By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Sat, 25 Jul 2026Errol Spence vs Tim Tszyu: Do or Die Down Under
By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 25 Jul 2026SYDNEY WEIGH-IN REPORT: Spence and Tszyu On Weight; Co-Main Event Cancelled After Fulton Blows Weight
By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Sat, 25 Jul 2026Fury Halts Wach in Thailand, Leaving Ball in Joshua’s Court for Mega-Fight
By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Sat, 25 Jul 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Great First Half of the Year for the WBC
By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Sat, 25 Jul 2026CK Ingles to Host Open 2x2 Team and Open Individual Rapid Chess Tournaments with ₱100,000 Prize Pool
By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 25 Jul 2026Magnificent 7 boxers gird for Asiad
By Joaquin Henson, , Sat, 25 Jul 2026Arca wins silver in Asian Youth in Shenzhen, China
By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 25 Jul 2026Anthony Joshua and Kristian Prenga exchange final words at Press Conference ahead of 'The Comeback'
By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Fri, 24 Jul 2026SYDNEY SHOWDOWN: Spence and Tszyu Exchange Final Verbal Barbs; Undercard Weight Drama Unfolds at Press Conference
By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Fri, 24 Jul 2026Spence vs Tszyu Fight Analysis and Prediction
By Ralph Rimpell, , Fri, 24 Jul 2026“BUTTERFLY BRAWL” MARKS RETURN TO ICONIC SANTA MONICA PIER
By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Fri, 24 Jul 2026AIM Jerick Faeldonia vying for Bangkok chess tilt
By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 24 Jul 2026PHILBOXING.COM THURSDAY ROUNDUP: Scale Shock in Pattaya, Red Sea Staredowns, and Final Countdown to Sydney
By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Thu, 23 Jul 2026USA Boxing Sends Eight Boxers to Italy for International Duel
, Thu, 23 Jul 2026P248k prize on the line in Moon Cake Festival Pro Amateur 10-ball tournament at Pacman's Cue Club
By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 23 Jul 2026Super Lightweight Contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin Inks Promotional Pact with Top Rank
By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Thu, 23 Jul 2026DUELING TUNE-UPS: Joshua and Fury Play High-Stakes Chicken Across Asia with November Mega-Fight Hanging in the Balance
By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Wed, 22 Jul 2026Chavon Stillwell and Izaiah Dent Put Their Perfect Records on the Line in a Can't-Miss Main Event at BiYu Promotions' "Fights Under the Lights"
By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Wed, 22 Jul 2026Unbeaten Bizhamov faces Mironchikov in IBA Pro 20 main event in Naberezhnye Chelny
By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Wed, 22 Jul 2026Cuarto ready to fight Paradero
By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 22 Jul 2026CHAVES DEFENDS WBO LATINO TITLE AGAINST GARCIA AT PRUDENTIAL CENTER IN NEWARK, NJ ON SEPT 4
By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Wed, 22 Jul 2026Undefeated Middleweight Prospect Sebastian Juarez Returns August 8 Against Rance Ward
By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Wed, 22 Jul 2026WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán and WBC Cares visits Pedro Fiorito Hospital in Avellaneda, Argentina
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 22 Jul 2026COLD SHOULDER IN SYDNEY: Spence and Tszyu Trade Snubs and Staredowns at Grand Arrivals Launch
By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Tue, 21 Jul 2026 |
|
|
|
|
|
