2017 NBA Playoffs
Eastern Conference Semifinals Game #2
#3 Toronto Raptors at #2 Cleveland Cavaliers
Cavaliers Lead Series 1-0
Wednesday, May 3, 2017, 7:00 pm Eastern, TV: TNT
Quicken Loans Arena – Cleveland, Ohio
Opening Line: Cleveland -7 1/2
Current Line: Cleveland -7
Opening Total: 213 1/2
Current Total: 214
Opening Money Line: Cavaliers -350 / Raptors +290
Current Money Line: Cavaliers -320 / Pacers +260
The Cleveland Cavaliers have won eight straight playoff games dating back to winning three straight games against the Golden State Warriors in the Finals last year to claim their first title in franchise history. They swept the Indiana Pacers in the first round this season and beat the Toronto Raptors 116-105 in game one of the Eastern Conference Semifinals Monday in Cleveland. The two teams will play game two Wednesday in Cleveland.
The Cavaliers and Raptors finished with identical 51-31 records in the regular season. The Cavaliers are the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs by the tie breaker. Cleveland won the Central Division and Toronto was second in the Atlantic Division. Both teams were two games behind the Boston Celtics for the best record in the East. Cleveland swept the Pacers and Toronto beat the Milwaukee Bucks in six games in the first round.
Toronto is coached by Dwane Casey. Toronto is 48-40-1 ATS and the total is 47-42 this season. Cleveland is coached by Tyronn Lue. The Cavaliers are 39-45-3 ATS and the total is 51-35-1 this season.
Cleveland was a seven point favorite in game one and the total was 211.5. The Cavaliers jumped out to a 30-18 lead in the first quarter and would lead 62-48 at halftime. The Cavaliers expanded the lead to 96-74 by the end of the third. Toronto made a late garbage time run but it was too little too late as the Cavaliers won by eleven.
The Raptors shot 39/89 from the field including 10/26 from three point range. Toronto made 17/20 free throws. The Raptors had 51 rebounds, 22 assists, 12 turnovers, 5 steals and 5 blocks. Toronto had 16 fast break points and 44 points in the paint. Cleveland shot 39/85 from the field including 14/34 from three point range. The Cavaliers made 24/29 free throws. Cleveland had 53 rebounds, 26 assists, 12 turnovers, 8 steals and 4 blocks. The Cavaliers had 20 fast break points and 36 points in the paint.
LeBron James had 35 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists for the Cavaliers. Kyrie Irving had 24 points, 10 assists, 2 rebounds and 2 steals. Kevin Love had 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 steals. Tristan Thompson had 11 points and 14 rebounds. Kyle Lowry had 20 points, 11 assists and 2 rebounds for the Raptors. DeMar DeRozan had 19 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists. Serge Ibaka had 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. P.J. Tucker had 13 points and 11 rebounds. Norman Powell had 12 points.
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Toronto is outscoring teams 107-103 this season. The Raptors are in the top ten in both categories this season. Toronto is shooting 46.4% from the field and 36.3% from three point range. The Raptors make 79.6% of their free throws and are #8 in that category. Opponents are shooting 44.9% from the field and 35.4% from three point range. The Raptors are #6 in field goal defense. Toronto averages 43.3 rebounds per game and opponents average 42.1 per game. The Raptors are #6 in rebounds allowed. Toronto averages 18.5 assists, 11.8 turnovers, 8.3 steals and 4.9 blocks per game.
Guard DeMar DeRozan averages 27.3 points per game, 5.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Guard Kyle Lowry averages 22.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. Forward Serge Ibaka, acquired in a midseason trade with the Orlando Magic, averages 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. Center Jonas Valanciunas averages 12 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. Terrance Ross averages 10.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. DeMarre Carroll, Luis Scola, Cory Joseph, Norman Powell, Patrick Patterson, P.J. Tucker and Delon Wright will also get some minutes in the rotation.
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Cleveland is outscoring teams 110-107 this season. Cleveland is #4 in scoring but #20 in points allowed. The Cavaliers are shooting 47% from the field including 38.4% from three point range. Cleveland is in the top five in both categories. The Cavaliers make 74.8% of their free throws and are #23 in that category. Opponents are shooting 45.8% from the field and 36.1% from three point range. Cleveland averages 43.8 rebounds per game and opponents average 44.2 per game. The Cavaliers average 22.7 assists, 13.7 turnovers, 6.6 steals and 4 blocks per game.
LeBron James averages 26.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game. James is having another MVP quality season. Kyrie Irving averages 25.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Kevin Love averages 19 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. He missed around 20 games with a knee injury and several games down the stretch for rest. Kyle Korver averages 10.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. Channing Frye averages 9.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. J.R. Smith averages 8.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He is probable with a thumb injury. Richard Jefferson, Tristan Thompson, Iman Shumpert, Deron Williams, and Derrick Williams will also get minutes in the rotation. Kay Felder is out with a leg injury.
Toronto is 5-1 ATS after a straight up loss, 4-1 after a double digit loss, 8-3 in road games, 7-3 after failing to cover, and against teams with winning home records, and 24-11-1 in Wednesday games. The road team is 5-1 ATS in this series recently.
Cleveland is 5-1 ATS in conference semifinal games, 5-2 after a straight up win and against NBA Atlantic teams, 11-5-3 against teams with winning road records, 1-4 at home, 1-5 against teams with winning straight up records and 0-4 on one day rest. The favorite is 5-2 ATS in this series recently. The Cavaliers are 5-2 ATS both overall and at home against the Raptors.
Cleveland played their best game of the playoffs Monday night. If they can keep up the defensive intensity, then they should win at home to take a 2-0 lead.
