The new-look Toronto Raptors handled their business and got 2024 off to a good start, dropping the Cleveland Cavaliers 124-121 at Scotiabank Arena on Monday night.
It wasn’t easy – in fact it was downright hairy in the fourth quarter – but Toronto used a big first quarter to take an early lead, went up by as many as 19 in the second quarter, and weathered the second-half storm to seal it.
The story of the game, other than the final score of course, was the Toronto debut of RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, both acquired on Saturday in a trade with the New York Knicks for OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa, and Malachi Flynn.