Despite trailing in the second half for the first time this series, and despite DeMar DeRozan scoring a playoff career-high 37 points, the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 115-94 win over the Toronto Raptors.
The Cavs now have a commanding 3-0 lead over the Raptors. No team in NBA history has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series.
Toronto did lead for a good chunk of the game, building a 52-49 halftime lead and led for most of the third quarter behind DeRozan's spectacular scoring.
Thanks to DeMar DeRozan's 21 pts, the #Raptors have a 52-49 lead at the half! #WeTheNorth #NBA #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/dqVCMjPKhD
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) May 6, 2017
DeRozan simply can't miss!! #WeTheNorth #NBA #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/EctzrxSqU0
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) May 6, 2017
However, without Kyle Lowry - who sat out due to an ankle sprain he suffered in Game 2 - Toronto didn't have enough firepower to keep pace with the Cavaliers. Cleveland went on a 17-1 run at the start of the fourth quarter to build their first double-digit lead of the game, and never looked back.
Shooting with his left hand is no problem for LeBron!! #DefendtheLand #NBA #CavsRaptors pic.twitter.com/fhbKG76Kiy
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) May 6, 2017
LeBron simply can NOT be stopped in the 4th! #DefendtheLand #NBA #NBAPlayoffs #CavsRaptors pic.twitter.com/WpdqE0CfIN
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) May 6, 2017
LeBron James led the way for the Cavs with 35 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, while Kevin Love contributed in a big way with a double-double (16 points, 13 rebounds). Kyrie Irving added 16 points and Kyle Korver chipped in 14 points (4-6 from three).
Without Lowry, the Raptors were simply not able to give DeRozan enough help. Other than him, only Serge Ibaka (12 points - all in the first half), Norman Powell (13 points) and Jonas Valanciunas (18 points) scored in double digits. Toronto's bench combined for just nine
Game 4 of this series will be on Sunday at 3:30 pm ET on ABC.
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