CLEVELAND, Ohio — Donovan Mitchell bought the message.

Again in his early-season kind, Mitchell led the Cavs to a 118-93 win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night time at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The victory snaps a three-game dropping streak and provides Cleveland its first win of the season towards the Raptors, who entered the night time having received 4 video games in a row general. The Cavs end February with an 8-3 file.

There was loads of unfavourable chatter surrounding the workforce following what veteran Ricky Rubio known as one of many worst performances of the season in Atlanta two nights in the past. Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff was even requested why his perception hasn’t wavered.

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The Cavs confirmed why Sunday night time.

“The strategy was excellent,” Bickerstaff stated. “Realizing your opponent, understanding how bodily the sport was going to be and exceeding that, doing it collectively, all issues that our guys have executed nearly all of the 12 months on full show tonight.”

After getting behind early, with the Raptors racing out to a spirited 7-2 edge within the first couple of minutes, the Cavs rapidly responded with a 10-0 run to tug in entrance. They by no means trailed once more.

Although the Raptors opened the second half with the identical zest, forcing Bickerstaff to name timeout simply 44 seconds into the third quarter, the Cavs answered the push and ultimately constructed their result in a game-high 30 factors. Forty-five minutes of dominance.

Bickerstaff was capable of empty his bench across the halfway level of the fourth quarter after which sit in his hardly ever used chair on the sideline till the buzzer sounded.

“We didn’t enable their physicality to rattle us,” Bickerstaff stated. “We turned that right into a power and began taking part in downhill and taking part in at pace. We had conversations like we at all times do concerning the significance of what’s in entrance of us. This was an enormous recreation for us simply to get ourselves again on observe and get our toes beneath us.”

Within the hours main as much as Sunday’s recreation, Bickerstaff had a separate heart-to-heart with Mitchell, the Cavs’ marquee participant and chief. It was temporary. It was simple. It was about setting the tone.

“I bought you,” Mitchell stated.

He backed up these phrases. Mitchell poured in a game-high 35 factors on 13 of 21 from the sector and eight of 12 from 3-point vary in three quarters of labor.

With the sport out of hand, Mitchell didn’t even play within the fourth quarter. He’s now second on the franchise’s single-season 3-point record, trailing simply former marksman JR Smith — a file Mitchell shouldn’t have any drawback breaking if he stays wholesome and continues on this tempo.

“We would have liked this one,” Mitchell stated. “We haven’t been taking part in our greatest basketball the previous two video games and it’s vital for us to grasp that in this stretch, we’ve bought to proceed to lock in and proceed to construct for the playoffs. It feels good to win this recreation, feels good to play the best way we performed. When a coach and you’ve got that discuss, you type of must go on the market and get to it.”

Middle Jarrett Allen recorded his team-leading twenty eighth double-double, scoring 23 factors to go along with 11 rebounds. Evan Mobley and Darius Garland chipped in with 18 factors apiece. Garland additionally had a game-high 11 assists towards zero turnovers.

The Cavs shot 52.4% from the sector and 50% from 3-point vary. That they had 30 assists on 44 made pictures.

However Sunday was about Mitchell recapturing the shape that made him an early-season MVP candidate and Japanese Convention All-Star starter. It was about Mitchell rising to the second and delivering the type of excellence that has crammed this franchise with unquantifiable hope and perception.

“Every time the lights shine brightest, Donovan exhibits up,” Bickerstaff stated. “He offers us a man who can take over at video games. We belief him and he bought it executed.”

Enjoying on the second night time of a back-to-back and with out level guard Fred VanVleet, who missed one other recreation because of the delivery of his youngster, Toronto was stifled by Cleveland’s protection all through.

The heavy-legged Raptors shot 38.7% from the sector and 36% from past the arc.

Pascal Siakam had a team-high 25 factors on 10-of-24 capturing. Commerce deadline acquisition Jakob Poeltl added 13 factors and 9 boards.

“The best way we performed as a collective effort, I really feel like everyone introduced one thing particular to the desk tonight that helped us win the sport,” Allen stated. “Once we come able to play, we’re going to carry it.”

Bickerstaff acquired 4 questions concerning the Raptors being an terrible matchup for the Cavaliers earlier than tipoff. One of many inquiries pertained to Mitchell’s particular person struggles towards Toronto.

A lot for that.

Sufficient with the discuss concerning the Raptors being Mitchell’s kryptonite. Sufficient about Mitchell’s February fade — his worst statistical scoring month of the season going into Sunday night time. Sufficient about Toronto having Cleveland’s quantity, successful the earlier three conferences. Sufficient with the Raptors having the type of bothersome fashion the Cavs’ undersized guards can’t deal with. Sufficient concerning the Cavs’ regression.

Sunday is the most effective elixir to silence all that noise.

Level of emphasis

Turnovers had been one of many bullet factors going into the sport, because the Raptors have earned a status for being handsy, bodily and feisty. The Cavs dedicated simply 14 on the night time, together with three within the first half.

Up subsequent

The Cavs will head to Boston for a showdown with the Celtics on Wednesday night time. Tipoff is about for 7:30 p.m.

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