Pascal Siakam had 23 factors and 11 rebounds and the Toronto Raptors used a livid fourth-quarter comeback to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in their season opener on Wednesday.
Gary Trent Jr. added 19 factors, whereas O.G. Anunoby completed with 18 for the Raptors, who had six gamers rating in double figures. Scottie Barnes and Fred VanVleet completed with 15 apiece, whereas Precious Achiuwa chipped in with 10.
Cleveland’s prized newcomer Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with 31 factors.
VanVleet’s steal led to a thunderous dunk from Barnes that introduced the Scotiabank Centre crowd to its ft and put Toronto up by one with 3:31 to play. Trent’s three-pointer, from in entrance of Cleveland’s bench, made it a four-point sport.
The Cavs gained possession with 19.9 seconds left after Barnes was whistled for travelling. Siakam fouled out three seconds later, and Mitchell’s two free throws sliced the distinction to 2 factors.
4 being GREAT ⬇️ <a href=”https://twitter.com/ScottBarnes561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@ScottBarnes561</a> <a href=”https://t.co/AHqjXDFysj”>pic.twitter.com/AHqjXDFysj</a>
—@Raptors
Barnes noticed a sprinting Achiuwa who sealed the victory with a rim-rattling dunk with 0.7 to play.
The Cavs, who have not made the playoffs since 2018, acquired Mitchell in a blockbuster off-season commerce with Utah, placing themselves squarely into Eastern Conference rivalry.
The Raptors made virtually no modifications to the crew that discovered their groove in the second half of final season en path to 48 wins. They completed fifth in the East and have been eradicated by Philadelphia in the primary spherical of the playoffs.
Their opener got here after their longest off-season in 5 years and the group roared as VanVleet addressed the followers earlier than tipoff, thanking them for his or her help.
A 12-0 Raptors run that straddled the primary and second quarters put Toronto up 33-22. But the Cavs regained the lead with a 13-0 run capped by a Mitchell leap shot, and had stretched their benefit to 57-51 at halftime.
Rookie Christian Koloko’s first NBA basket was an enormous put again dunk that was a part of a Raptors’ run to tie the sport late in the third quarter. But the Cavs outscored Toronto 11-3 to the tip of the body, and led 84-76 with one quarter to play.
The Cavs misplaced Darius Garland in the primary half to a left eye harm.