CLEVELAND (Interstat) — The Cleveland Cavaliers used a strong second half to defeat the Toronto Raptors 115-105 in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series Monday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Trailing by four at halftime, the Cavaliers outscored the Raptors 61-48 after the break before a crowd of 19,432. The Cavaliers, who led the series 1-0 after a Game 1 win, shot 50% from the field to Toronto’s 44%. James Harden, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley led a balanced Cleveland attack. RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes paced the Raptors, who will host Game 3 on Thursday night. Cleveland improved to 54-30 this season, while Toronto fell to 46-38. The Cavaliers were 8.5-point favorites, and the total fell under the projected line of 224.5.

CLEVELAND (Interstat) — Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points, James Harden added 28 and the Cleveland Cavaliers methodically built and maintained a lead throughout Monday night, defeating the Toronto Raptors 115-105 to take a commanding 2-0 advantage in their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series. In front of a sellout crowd of 19,432 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the Cavaliers never trailed, extending their postseason mastery over the Raptors to 12 consecutive victories. That ties the NBA record for the longest playoff winning streak against a single opponent, a run that began during the 2016 conference finals. The victory was anchored by Cleveland’s trio of offensive stars. Alongside Mitchell and Harden, Evan Mobley contributed 25 points and eight rebounds. It marked the fourth time in franchise history, and the second straight postseason, that at least three Cavaliers scored 25 or more points in a playoff game. Jarrett Allen added 10 points and three blocks for Cleveland, which improved to 54-30 overall this season. Toronto, which fell to 46-38, was led by Scottie Barnes’s 26 points and five assists. RJ Barrett, playing in his hometown, posted 22 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Rookie Collin Murray-Boyles provided a spark off the bench with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Sandro Mamukelashvili recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards. The game’s pivotal stretch came late in the third quarter and bled into the fourth, as Cleveland successfully repelled Toronto’s most concerted push. After trailing by as many as 15 in the first half, the Raptors clawed back to within six points at 84-78 following a driving layup by Barrett with 3:53 left in the third. The Cavaliers, however, responded with a critical 6-0 run to close the quarter, capped by an Evan Mobley dunk off a Donovan Mitchell assist with 48 seconds remaining, pushing the lead back to 12. Toronto made one final charge early in the fourth. A driving layup by Barnes and a three-pointer from Ja’Kobe Walter cut the deficit to 90-87 with 10:28 to play, forcing a Cleveland timeout. Out of the stoppage, the Cavaliers executed a decisive 9-2 run over the next two minutes. It was fueled by defensive stops and timely scoring, including a three-pointer from Jaylon Tyson and four consecutive free throws from James Harden and Jarrett Allen, re-establishing a double-digit cushion at 99-89 from which the Raptors would not recover. Cleveland’s control was established from the opening tip. They led 26-19 after a first quarter where they shot efficiently and forced six Toronto turnovers. The lead ballooned to 15 points in the second quarter following a 10-2 Cavaliers run, highlighted by back-to-back three-pointers from Harden. While the Raptors found an offensive rhythm to score 29 points in both the second and third quarters, they could never string together enough defensive stops to overtake the Cavaliers, who answered every Toronto basket with one of their own. Harden, the top star for Cleveland, followed up his 22-point, 10-assist performance in Game 1 with another all-around effort, adding five rebounds and four assists. Mitchell complemented his 30 points with seven rebounds and five assists. The Cavaliers’ offensive execution was crisp, particularly in the half-court, where their veteran guards consistently created advantages. For Toronto, the offensive burden fell heavily on Barnes and Barrett, as starting guard Jamal Shead was limited to three points on 1-for-6 shooting. The Raptors’ efforts were also hampered by 18 turnovers, which Cleveland converted into 23 points. The series now shifts to Toronto for Game 3 on Thursday night. The Raptors, who have not beaten Cleveland in the playoffs since May 2016, face a steep historical challenge: NBA teams that take a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven series go on to win the series over 92% of the time. The Cavaliers will look to continue their postseason hex over Toronto and move one step closer to the conference semifinals.

Preview: Raptors Look to Even Series Against Cavaliers in Game 2 CLEVELAND (Interstat) — The Toronto Raptors will aim to bounce back from a series-opening defeat when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers for Game 2 of their first-round NBA playoff series Monday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The Cavaliers seized home-court advantage with a 126-113 victory on Saturday. Donovan Mitchell led the charge with 32 points, while James Harden added 22 points and 10 assists. The Raptors, who got 24 points from RJ Barrett, have now lost four of their last six games entering Monday’s contest. Toronto (46-37) must find an answer for Cleveland’s offensive firepower. The Cavaliers (53-30) have won seven of their last nine, with Mitchell averaging 28.8 points over his last five games. He has scored 30 or more points in three of those outings. Barrett has been a consistent scorer for the Raptors, averaging 20.5 points over his last 10 games. His performance will be critical alongside forwards Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes, who combined for 38 points in Game 1. The season series is tied 2-2, with each team winning once on the other’s home floor during the regular season. The Raptors won both meetings in Cleveland in November, including a 126-113 victory on Nov. 13. Cleveland is an 8.5-point favorite for Game 2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, with the over/under set at 224.5 points. The series will shift to Toronto for Games 3 and 4, scheduled for Thursday and Sunday.