The Cavs regained the lead as the Hawks and Timberwolves tied the playoff series
The Cleveland Cavaliers wrapped up their first-round NBA series against the Toronto Raptors after a 115-105 victory in Game 2 on Monday night, with their three stars scoring a combined 83 points to move Cleveland to the brink of a series sweep.
Donovan Mitchell led the way with 30 points, James Harden added 28 and Evan Mobley added 25 as the Cavs went on a 2-0 run.
It’s the second straight season Cleveland has had three players score at least 25 points in a single playoff game, and the fourth in franchise history.
Cleveland extends historic streak
The win extended Cleveland’s playoff streak against the Raptors to 12 games, matching the NBA postseason record for consecutive wins against a single player.
The streak dates back to the 2016 Eastern Conference finals and includes four-game sweeps in the second round in 2017 and 2018.
Cleveland never trailed Monday night, although Toronto showed more fight than in the Game 1 blowout, reaching nine points midway through the fourth quarter. Mitchell had the answer, scoring seven straight points to put the contest beyond doubt.
After being held to just three fast-break points in Game 1, the Raptors improved on 16 turnovers on Monday, but 22 turnovers proved too much of a threat against Cleveland’s firepower.
Mitchell and Harden combined to score or assist on 78 of Cleveland’s 115 points in the game – 68% of the team’s total.
McCollum quiets the garden as the Hawks level series
While the Cavaliers moved on, there was a shock at Madison Square Garden when the Atlanta Hawks evened their first-round series against the New York Knicks with a 107-106 victory in Game 2.
CJ McCollum was the architect of the success with 32 points and six assists, hitting three key buckets in the final two minutes including the go-ahead step-back jumper over OG Anunoby with 34 seconds left.
McCollum’s exchange with Knicks backup guard Jose Alvarado drew boos from the crowd that were mostly directed at former Hawk Trae Young, leading to a technical foul. He didn’t worry after that.
“I’m not a bully, I’m a good guy with two kids and a wife. I think it’s admirable. Great, loving fans in a hateful place. It’s fun, basketball, play-offs. If anything, I think it’s a sign of respect.”
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 14 of his 18 points in the third quarter as the Knicks dominated the middle, but Atlanta shot 72% in the fourth to turn the deficit around. McCollum missed two free throws with 5.6 seconds left, but Mikal Bridges couldn’t convert a timeout to save New York.
Gobert repays critics with dominant showing
In the Western Conference, Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert responded by finishing fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting in emphatic fashion, holding Nikola Jokic to 1-of-8 shooting in their individual encounters as the Timberwolves defeated the Denver Nuggets 119-114 to hang their series at 1-1.
Gobert did not hide his frustration with the result of the voting, when Victor Wembanyama won unanimously with all 100 votes and came out in first place.
“It’s not the first time I’ve been disrespected. Maybe it won’t be the last. If you want to disrespect greatness, take it easy, whatever, they’ll soon see the impact.”
Jokic scored 24 points in total but was limited to one shot attempt in the first eight minutes and made two jumpers in the air.
He took advantage of Gobert’s absence in the fourth quarter after the Frenchman picked up his fourth foul, scoring 14 points in seven minutes, but Minnesota held on in the closing stages.
Anthony Edwards scored 30 points despite a right knee problem, and he praised Gobert’s defense as the backbone of the team’s performance.
“We are part of the team when he is on the bench.
Donte DiVincenzo scored a key late three-pointer to build the gap Minnesota needed, and Jamal Randle added 24 points for the Timberwolves.
