The Cleveland Cavaliers are tipping off the NBA playoffs with a first-round matchup against the Toronto Raptors! I'll be live updating this page throughout the game. Please comment with your thoughts throughout.
The Cavs will be without Thomas Bryant, while the Raptors are without Immanuel Quickley.
Game 1 Starters:
Raptors - Shead, Barrett, Ingram, Barnes, Poeltl
Cavs - Harden, Mitchell, Wade, Mobley, Allen
FIRST QUARTER
The James Harden-Jarrett Allen connection is open for business. JA is diving to the rim hard already. Nice crossover on Jakob Poeltl to get to the rack with authority.
Raptors open the game 3-for-4 from long range, go figure. Two of them are from Scottie Barnes, who just committed his second foul less than five minutes into the contest. Cavs up 13-11.
Sam Merrill came in as the Cavs' first sub for Evan Mobley, then Max Strus in for Donovan Mitchell.
Mitchell and Jaylon Tyson in next for Allen and Dean Wade.
Pair of fouls real quick for Tyson on the Brandon Ingram assignment.
Ingram is getting to the free-throw line off the dribble. Sam Merrill, Max Strus, and Dean Wade haven't gotten their first looks to fall. Cavs down 22-20 with 2:55 left in the first quarter.
Tyson picks up his third foul while guarding Ingram.
Max Strus and Sam Merrill did their thing to close that quarter. Defense was great, saw the ball go through the net, crashed the glass. Cavs up 35-31 after one.
END 1Q: Cavs 35, Raptors 31
TOR: Ingram 9p, 3a. Barnes 9p, 2a. Shead 5p, 1r, 1a.
CLE: Mitchell 8p, 2a, 2stl. Harden 7p, 3a, 1r. Strus 6p, 1r. Allen 6p. Merrill 4p, 3r.
SECOND QUARTER
Atkinson going 10 deep apparently, as Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis enter the game to join Mitchell, Mobley, and Merrill.
Mitchell's got his offensive package clicking early, especially that one-step, dribble back triple.
Harden's been outstanding in the first half on both ends. Involving those bigs consistently, picking his moments to drive or shoot. Defensively, standing stout whenever Toronto tries to go at him. Credit to Beard.
The first portion of this second quarter has moved like molasses with whistles on every possession. It's been difficult for either squad to establish a real rhythm. Cavs up 41-39 with Allen on the line for one more free throw.
Ingram mid-range class is in session. Whether he's finding his spots or catch-and-firing, he's commanded the 14-18 foot jumper.
That got exciting after the ref show. Harden and Mitchell are setting the offensive tone, and Mobley got going there. Strus has been pumped up from the moment he checked in.
HALF: Cavs 61, Raptors 54
TOR: Ingram 13p, 4a, 2r. Barnes 11p, 4a, 1r. Barrett 11p, 2r, 1a, stl. Shead 11p, 1r, 1a.
CLE: Harden 15p, 6a, 2r, stl. Mitchell 13p, 4a, 2stl. Mobley 9p, 4r, 2a. Strus 11p, 2r. Allen 6p, 5r.
THIRD QUARTER
Cavs open with multiple stops, score the first six points of the second half. After Dean Wade's putback slam off a Donovan Mitchell floater miss, it's 67-54.
Cleveland has opened up a can on the Raptors. Atkinson's pushing the correct buttons with these lineups. Strus is on one this afternoon, and now, it's causing confusion for Toronto. Cavs up 82-60 with 5:37 left in the first half.
Defense on Barnes was terrific. Good timing on when to funnel him in, when Cavs needed to double. Stops lead to scores.
Tyson gets in the box score with a foul drawn in transition.
Mitchell side-step three and a foul drawn at the end of the quarter puts Cleveland up by 20-plus.
END 3Q: Cavs 97, Raptors 76
TOR: Barrett 18p, 3a, 2r, 2stl. Ingram 17p, 4a, 2r. Barnes 13p, 5a, 1r. Shead 14p, 1r, 1a. Murray-Boyles 8p, 3r, 3a.
CLE: Mitchell 24p, 4a, 2r, 2stl. Harden 18p, 7a, 3r, blk, stl. Strus 19p, 4r. Mobley 17p, 7r, 3a. Allen 8p, 7r.
FOURTH QUARTER
Cavs keeping the foot on the gas, extend the lead to 106-84 with 9:28 remaining in regulation. Don's in close mode.
This period has just kind of happened. There's not a whole lot going on, to be honest. The clock is ticking. Toronto's tried to cut into the deficit, but Cleveland's just had an answer each time. Cavs are up 120-102 with less than four minutes to go.