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James hits one-handed bank shot at buzzer, lifts Cavs to 105-103 victory; Three takeaways

Photo Courtesy of Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Love fuels third-quarter production

Toronto went on a 12-0 run throughout the early stages of the third, drawing contact and knocking down eight free throws. James would stop the rally with two free throws of his own, but the on-ball pressure and overall physicality continued to mount against the home five.

Enter Love.

The five-time All-Star thrived when the team needed him the most, using his signature hook shot and free throws to tally nine of the team’s 22 points in the period. The outburst provided James with a breather, as he sat for the final four minutes, a span in which the Cavaliers still outscored Toronto by four points.

“[Lue] just wanted me to get involved, especially when Bron is out,” Love said. “I’ve got to give a lot of credit to guys like George Hill – he’s been huge for me. Kyle Korver as well.”

Love went 3-of-7 with three free throws and a +21 efficiency, only trailing James’ +22 after three quarters. Every time the Raptors would strike, the Wine and Gold responded with ease, using its balanced approach to have five players in double-figures.

“Just having that either strong-side or weak-side action with him and [Korver’s] either pinning in for me, they might be switching or pinning in for me with my defender, the five-man or the four-man or if they’re switching, he’s going weak-side looking for a shot or throwing it to me in the post,” said Love.

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John Alfes is a senior at John Carroll University, and hails from Westlake, Ohio. His love and passion for the game of baseball originated in 1998, when he played catch with his father at the age of two. A former collegiate pitcher, Alfes currently serves as a Cleveland Cavaliers reporter for AP Radio/Metro Networks and the Cleveland Indians Beat Writer for CBS Sports/Scout Media Network, all while majoring in Communications (focus in Journalism) and English (focus in Professional Writing). He is the Sports Editor for The Carroll News, Sports Director for WJCU 88.7 FM and Senior Writer for the John Carroll Sports Information Department. John is an Eagle Scout and loves his two younger brothers (Conrad and Daniel) and two parents (John and Celeste). You can follow John Alfes on Twitter (@JohnAlfes) or reach him through email (jalfes18@jcu.edu).

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