Game ID: 22300452
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Toronto Raptors
Monday, January 1, 2024 at 7:30 PM ET
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
TOR 41 26 31 26 124CLE 32 27 32 30 121
CLE @ TOR ScoutingCLE @ TOR Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
TOR availability going into 12/23 · back-to-backOUT Freeman-Liberty missed 26 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Young missed 3 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Temple missed 3 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Dick back 12/22 after 2, 2 min since (11% of 21)
BACK Porter Jr. back 12/22 after 5, 15 min since (128% of 12)
BACK McDaniels back 12/15 after 4, 2 min since (23% of 11)
TOR availability going into 12/27 · 3 days' restOUT Freeman-Liberty missed 27 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Young missed 4 since 12/18, returns tonight: 5 min (32% of 15)
OUT Temple missed 4 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Dick back 12/22 after 2, 2 min since (11% of 21)
BACK Porter Jr. back 12/22 after 5, 15 min since (128% of 12)
BACK McDaniels back 12/15 after 4, 2 min since (23% of 11)
TOR availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Freeman-Liberty missed 28 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Porter missed 2 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Temple missed 5 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Dick back 12/22 after 2, 4 min since (17% of 21)
BACK Young back 12/27 after 4, 5 min since (32% of 15)
BACK Porter Jr. back 12/22 after 5, 14 min since (120% of 12)
BACK McDaniels back 12/22 after 2, 11 min since (98% of 11)
TOR availability going into 12/30 · back-to-backOUT Freeman-Liberty missed 29 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Porter missed 3 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Temple missed 6 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Dick back 12/22 after 2, 4 min since (17% of 21)
BACK Young back 12/27 after 4, 5 min since (32% of 15)
BACK Porter Jr. back 12/22 after 5, 12 min since (104% of 12)
BACK McDaniels back 12/22 after 2, 12 min since (111% of 11)
TOR availability going into 1/01 · 1 day's restOUT Dick missed 2 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Freeman-Liberty missed 30 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Porter missed 4 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Temple missed 7 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Young back 12/27 after 4, 8 min since (52% of 15)
BACK Porter Jr. back 12/22 after 5, 11 min since (94% of 12)
BACK McDaniels back 12/22 after 2, 13 min since (124% of 11)
TOR availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restOUT Dick missed 3 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Freeman-Liberty missed 31 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Porter missed 5 since 12/23, returns tonight: 7 min (52% of 14)
OUT Temple missed 8 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Young back 12/27 after 4, 6 min since (39% of 15)
NEW McDaniels 11 to 17 min over the last 3
TOR availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Dick missed 4 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Freeman-Liberty missed 32 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 2 since 1/01, out tonight
OUT McDaniels missed 2 since 1/01, returns tonight: 7 min (68% of 11)
OUT Temple missed 9 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Young back 12/27 after 4, 6 min since (39% of 15)
BACK Porter back 1/03 after 5, 7 min since (52% of 14)
TOR availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Dick missed 5 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Freeman-Liberty missed 33 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Young missed 2 since 1/03, returns tonight: 4 min (24% of 15)
OUT Porter Jr. missed 3 since 1/01, out tonight
OUT Temple missed 10 since 12/18, returns tonight: 4 min (35% of 11)
BACK Porter back 1/03 after 5, 10 min since (75% of 14)
BACK McDaniels back 1/05 after 2, 7 min since (68% of 11)
TOR availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restOUT Dick missed 6 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Freeman-Liberty missed 34 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 4 since 1/01, out tonight
BACK Young back 1/07 after 2, 4 min since (24% of 15)
BACK Porter back 1/03 after 5, 11 min since (78% of 14)
BACK McDaniels back 1/05 after 2, 6 min since (51% of 11)
BACK Temple back 1/07 after 10, 4 min since (35% of 11)
NEW Poeltl 26 to 32 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 12/21 · back-to-backOUT Garland missed 3 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 7 since 12/08, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 12/12 after 4, 27 min since (97% of 28)
BACK Merrill back 12/16 after 2, 21 min since (124% of 17)
BACK Porter Jr. back 12/16 after 3, 16 min since (128% of 13)
CLE availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 2 since 12/20, out tonight
OUT Garland missed 4 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 8 since 12/08, out tonight
BACK Merrill back 12/16 after 2, 19 min since (111% of 17)
BACK Porter Jr. back 12/16 after 3, 19 min since (153% of 13)
CLE availability going into 12/27 · 3 days' restOUT Mitchell missed 3 since 12/20, out tonight
OUT Garland missed 5 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 9 since 12/08, out tonight
BACK Merrill back 12/16 after 2, 19 min since (111% of 17)
BACK Porter Jr. back 12/16 after 3, 23 min since (184% of 13)
NEW Wade 20 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Thompson 11 to 17 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 4 since 12/20, returns tonight: 36 min (101% of 36)
OUT Garland missed 6 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 10 since 12/08, out tonight
OUT Merrill missed 2 since 12/23, returns tonight: 15 min (89% of 17)
NEW Okoro 26 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Wade 20 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Porter Jr. 13 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Thompson 11 to 17 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 1/01 · 2 days' restOUT Garland missed 7 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 11 since 12/08, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 12/29 after 4, 36 min since (101% of 36)
BACK Merrill back 12/29 after 2, 15 min since (89% of 17)
NEW Okoro 26 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Wade 20 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Porter Jr. 13 to 28 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restOUT Garland missed 8 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 12 since 12/08, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 12/29 after 4, 37 min since (103% of 36)
BACK Merrill back 12/29 after 2, 16 min since (95% of 17)
NEW Okoro 26 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Wade 20 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Porter Jr. 13 to 24 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Garland missed 9 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 13 since 12/08, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 12/29 after 4, 33 min since (91% of 36)
BACK Merrill back 12/29 after 2, 20 min since (120% of 17)
NEW Porter Jr. 13 to 21 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Garland missed 10 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 14 since 12/08, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 12/29 after 4, 31 min since (86% of 36)
BACK Merrill back 12/29 after 2, 22 min since (129% of 17)
CLE availability going into 1/11 · 3 days' restOUT Garland missed 11 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 15 since 12/08, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 12/29 after 4, 32 min since (90% of 36)
BACK Merrill back 12/29 after 2, 22 min since (130% of 17)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Siakam at 27 and Barnes at 23 a game. Without Dick (2 straight), Freeman-Liberty (30 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 16 free throws a game; Allen at 21 and LeVert at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Garland (7 straight), Eva. Mobley (11 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Toronto wins, and the game turns on the arc, Toronto at 39 percent from three to Cleveland's 33 and the line, where Toronto takes 23 free throws a game to Cleveland's 16. Call it Toronto 116, Cleveland 114, Cleveland keeping it close.
12/23 vs UTA 119-126 — TOR notes
TOR lost 119-126. TOR shot 48% (45 of 94) to UTA's 53%, 13 of 32 from three. Barnes led with 32 (12 of 23, 4 of 8 from three); Siakam added 19, Anunoby 19. Q2 was theirs, 37-24, but the other 3 periods went 102-82 against them. They led by as many as 17. Boucher's -11 in 13 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/27 @ WAS 132-102 — TOR notes
TOR won 132-102. TOR shot 57% (52 of 91) to WAS's 47%, 15 of 38 from three. The glass went 53-34 for them. Anunoby led with 26 (11 of 16, 3 of 7 from three); Siakam added 22, Barnes 20. The hinge was Q4, 35-21: a lead of 16 became 30. Schröder was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
12/29 @ BOS 118-120 — TOR notes
TOR lost 118-120. TOR shot 46% (44 of 95) to BOS's 49%, 17 of 44 from three. TOR turned it over 4 times to BOS's 16. The glass went 38-52 against them. Barnes led with 30 (10 of 24, 7 of 15 from three); Siakam added 27, Schröder 15. Q4 was theirs, 32-21, the deficit cut from 13 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 99-86 against them. Trent Jr.'s -10 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/30 @ DET 127-129 — TOR notes
TOR lost 127-129. TOR took 9 more shots (91 to 82), but shot 51% to DET's 50%, 12 of 24 from three, and got to the line 28 times to DET's 40. Siakam led with 35 (14 of 24, 5 of 8 at the line); Schröder added 30, Trent Jr. 24. Q3 was theirs, 42-38, the deficit cut from 8 to 4, but the other 3 periods went 91-85 against them. Young's -9 in 11 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/01 vs CLE 124-121 — TOR notes
TOR won 124-121. TOR shot 48% (42 of 87) to CLE's 48%, 11 of 30 from three, and went to the line 40 times to CLE's 26 — 29 points from the stripe to their 23. Siakam led with 36 (13 of 20, 5 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Barnes added 20, Barrett 19. The hinge was Q1, 41-32: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 19. Schröder was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
1/03 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 119, shooting 42 percent and 31 from three, 26 free throws a game; Morant at 23 and Bane at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Jackson (8 straight), LaRavia (8 straight), Gilyard (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Toronto comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 120, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 25 free throws a game; Siakam at 28 and Barnes at 25 a game. Without Dick (3 straight), Freeman-Liberty (31 straight). One day's rest.
So: Toronto wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Toronto has been minus-0 a night and Memphis minus-11 and the arc, Toronto at 40 percent from three to Memphis's 31. Call it Toronto 117, Memphis 112.
1/05 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Fox at 29 and Sabonis at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Ellis (2 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 27 free throws a game; Siakam at 29 and Barnes at 22 a game. Without Dick (4 straight), Freeman-Liberty (32 straight). One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-8 a night and Toronto plus-1 and the line, where Toronto takes 27 free throws a game to Sacramento's 19. Call it Sacramento 118, Toronto 117, Toronto keeping it close.
1/07 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Curry at 26 and Thompson at 15 a game. Without Green (12 straight), Payton II (2 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 123, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 28 free throws a game; Siakam at 28 and Barnes at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Dick (5 straight), Freeman-Liberty (33 straight), Young (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the line, where Toronto takes 28 free throws a game to Golden State's 23 and the glass, where Golden State has been plus-0 a night and Toronto minus-4. Call it Golden State 119, Toronto 118, Toronto keeping it close.
1/09 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 29 from three, 25 free throws a game; Davis at 27 and James at 26 a game. Without Hachimura (3 straight), Vincent (9 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 123, shooting 52 percent and 42 from three, 27 free throws a game; Siakam at 26 and Barrett at 21 a game. Without Dick (6 straight), Freeman-Liberty (34 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the arc, Toronto at 42 percent from three to the Lakers' 29 and the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 15 times a game to Toronto's 10. Call it the Lakers 117, Toronto 116, Toronto keeping it close.
12/21 vs NOP 104-123 — CLE notes
CLE lost 104-123. CLE shot 47% (41 of 87) to NOP's 55%, 17 of 44 from three, and got to the line 8 times to NOP's 16. Wade led with 20 (7 of 11, 6 of 8 from three); Okoro added 16, Allen 14. Q4 was theirs, 28-29, but the other 3 periods went 94-76 against them. LeVert's -24 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/23 @ CHI 109-95 — CLE notes
CLE won 109-95. CLE shot 44% (39 of 88) to CHI's 44%, 12 of 45 from three, and went to the line 26 times to CHI's 19 — 19 points from the stripe to their 17. The glass went 48-37 for them. Strus led with 26 (9 of 22, 5 of 17 from three); Porter Jr. added 19, Allen 19. The hinge was Q3, 25-16: a lead of 1 became 10, and the lead reached 17. Jones was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
12/27 @ DAL 113-110 — CLE notes
CLE won 113-110. CLE shot 43% (40 of 92) to DAL's 44%, 17 of 43 from three. CLE turned it over 16 times to DAL's 10, and DAL turned those into 12 steals. The glass went 57-37 for them. LeVert led with 29 (9 of 19, 6 of 11 from three, 5 of 8 at the line); Allen added 24, Okoro 22. The hinge was Q4, 31-20: CLE came in trailing by 8 and left it ahead by 3. CLE trailed 54-69 at the half and won the second half 59-41. Wade was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
12/29 vs MIL 111-119 — CLE notes
CLE lost 111-119. CLE took 23 more shots (103 to 80), but shot 48% to MIL's 51%, 6 of 43 from three, and got to the line just 9 times against 20 fouls committed. CLE turned it over 8 times to MIL's 17. Mitchell led with 34 (14 of 23, 2 of 10 from three); Allen added 30, Porter Jr. 14. Q1 was theirs, 37-31, but the other 3 periods went 88-74 against them. They led by as many as 15. Allen's -12 in 40 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/01 @ TOR 121-124 — CLE notes
CLE lost 121-124. CLE shot 48% (43 of 89) to TOR's 48%, 12 of 36 from three, and got to the line 26 times to TOR's 40. LeVert led with 31 (12 of 20, 2 of 7 from three); Mitchell added 26, Allen 16. Q4 was theirs, 30-26, the deficit cut from 7 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 98-91 against them. Okoro's -17 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/03 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 18 free throws a game; Allen at 21 and LeVert at 19 a game. Without Garland (8 straight), Eva. Mobley (12 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 124, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Kuzma at 20 and Poole at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-3 a night and Washington minus-11 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 114 a night to Washington's 124. Call it Cleveland 120, Washington 113.
1/05 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 32 from three, 20 free throws a game; Mitchell at 27 and LeVert at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Garland (9 straight), Eva. Mobley (13 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 127, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 15 free throws a game; Kuzma at 22 and Kispert at 14 a game. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-9 a night and Washington minus-13 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 110 a night to Washington's 127. Call it Cleveland 123, Washington 111, Cleveland by 12.
1/07 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 109, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Mitchell at 27 and Allen at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Garland (10 straight), Eva. Mobley (14 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 121, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 24 and Vassell at 21 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Collins (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-11 a night and San Antonio minus-8 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 109 a night to San Antonio's 121. Call it Cleveland 120, San Antonio 110, Cleveland by 10.
1/11 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Mitchell at 25 and Allen at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Garland (11 straight), Eva. Mobley (15 straight). 3 days' rest. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 119, shooting 41 percent and 31 from three, 25 free throws a game; Bridges at 22 and Claxton at 15 a game. Without Simmons (30 straight), Clowney (6 straight), Wilson (2 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 110 a night to Brooklyn's 119 and the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-8 a night and Brooklyn plus-3. Call it Cleveland 119, Brooklyn 110.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLECL C. LeVert
CP C. Porter Jr.
DM D. Mitchell
DW D. Wade
GN G. Niang
IO I. Okoro
JA J. Allen
MS M. Strus
SM S. Merrill
TT T. Thompson
TORCB C. Boucher
DS D. Schröder
GT G. Trent Jr.
IQ I. Quickley
JP J. Poeltl
PS P. Siakam
RB R. Barrett
SB S. Barnes
SC Schroder
CLE/TOR the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Barrett, Quickley combine to lead the new-look Raptors to a 124-121 win over the Cavaliers
TORONTO -- — Pascal Siakam scored 36 points, Jakob Poeltl had 14 points and 11 rebounds and the new-look Toronto Raptors recovered after squandering a 19-point lead and held on to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 124-121 on Monday night.
RJ Barrett had 19 points and nine rebounds and Immanuel Quickley added 14 in the players’ first start for the Raptors. Barrett and Quickley were sent to Toronto from the Knicks on Saturday in a trade that sent OG Anunoby to New York.
The sellout crowd of 19,800 roared for the Toronto-born Barrett when he was introduced before tipoff. Barrett assisted on Quickley’s 3-pointer to open the scoring for the Raptors.
“This was special,” Barrett said of his first home game in Toronto. “Way better than any other time I’ve played here. This was a special one that I’ll always appreciate.”
Scottie Barnes scored 20 points and Dennis Schroder added 12 points off the bench as Toronto bounced back after falling at Detroit on Saturday, when the Pistons snapped an NBA record-tying 28-game losing streak.
“I think we played good basketball,” Toronto coach Darko Rajakoic said. “Guys were enjoying playing a good brand of basketball and just cheering for each other.”
Caris LeVert scored 31 points and Donovan Mitchell had 26 for the Cavaliers, who have lost two straight and three of five. Isaac Okoro , Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill each had 16 points for Cleveland.
Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said Siakam should have been called for travelling on Toronto’s final inbounds pass.
“He travelled for sure,” Bickerstaff said. “There was no doubt about it. When you inbound the ball on the sideline after a timeout, you’re not allowed to move and he clearly worked his way up the sideline. That’s a violation, the ball should have been ours with a chance to win the game.”
Okoro and Mitchell missed 3-point shots with the Cavaliers trailing by two in the final minute of the fourth quarter.
“I thought we got open looks,” Bickerstaff said. “We’ve just got to knock them down.”
The Cavaliers fell to 5-3 since learning that forward Evan Mobley (left knee surgery) and point guard Darius Garland (fractured jaw) will be sidelined until February.
Mitchell went to the free throw line with less than three seconds remaining and made the first, cutting Cleveland’s deficit to 123-121. But Mitchell’s lane violation on his second attempt gave the ball back to Toronto.
“That was tough,” MItchell said. “I didn’t agree, but it shouldn’t have come down to that.”
After catching Siakam’s controversial inbounds pass, Barnes split a pair of free throws with 1.3 seconds to go and then sealed the win by picking off Cleveland’s long inbounds pass.
Toronto built a 59-40 advantage midway through the second quarter and led 67-59 at the half but the Cavaliers battled back. Mitchell’s tiebreaking 3-pointer with 6:48 left in the fourth put Cleveland up 111-108 and gave the Cavaliers their first lead since the opening period.
“We kind of put ourselves behind the eight-ball to start the game,” Mitchell said.
UP NEXT
Cavaliers: Host Washington on Wednesday.
Raptors: Begin a six-game Western Conference trip at Memphis on Wednesday.