NUMBERS DON'T LIE - RAPTORS 98, CAVS 91 - The "Third Quarter Eruption" Edition

posted by Romy Aquino (@romyaquino)

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NUMBERS DON'T LIE

RAPTORS 98, CAVS 91

The "Third Quarter Eruption" Edition

Mark it down, it's win #30 for the Toronto Raptors.  Toronto continued their dominance at home, making a second half run in their 98-91 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Canada Basketball night at the ACC.  Terrence Ross had his biggest game since his 51-point effort a few weeks back and also played lockdown defence on the Cavs top offensive threats.

Numbers don't lie, check the scoreboard:

The Raptors

37 Toronto scored 39 points in the first half on 33% shooting.  Then they smartened up at the half, played better defence and dropped 37 points in the third quarter.

30 Tonight's win over the Cavs is the 30th win for the Raptors in 55 games.  It took the Raptors 78 games to get at the 30 win mark last season, and didn't even have 30 wins in the 2011-12 and 2010-11 seasons.

38 The Sophomores Terrence Ross and Jonas Valanciunas combined for total 38 points (Ross 20, JV 18).  T-Ross led the Raptors with 20 points and locked down the Cavs Kyrie Irving and Luol Deng to 9-31 shooting.  Valanciunas scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half.

39% Toronto held Cleveland to just 39% (32-82) shooting from the field with NBA All-Star MVP Kyrie Irving making only 3 field goals on 16 attempts.

8-2 When Toronto holds team to under 40% shooting, the Rapttors are 8-2 on the season.

15 This was the 15th anniversary of the Raptors first game at the Air Canada Centre.

The Cavs

3 Cleveland were missing three players on Friday night: Anderson Varejao (back), Dion Waiters (knee) and C.J. Miles (ankle)

7/10 Newly-acquired Spencer Hawes made his debut for the Cavaliers and had 7 pts (3-10), 10 rebounds and three blocks.

6 The Cavs were one of the hottest teams in the league.  They headed into this game on a six game winning streak, Toronto put an end to that.

10-12 Even though Kyrie Irving only went 3-16 from the field, he managed to get to the line 12 times, making ten free throws.  Irving finished with 17 points and 9 assists.

13/9 Shoutouts to the Canadians:  Tristan Thompson 13 pts (6-10) and 9 rebounds, Anthony Bennett 9 pts and 3 rebounds

Final Notes

1 One Canada Basketball night at the ACC.

Pound The Rock Star of the Game: Jonas Valanciunas - 28 minutes, 18 points (14 in the second half), 8 reb, 2 blk

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