Monday, December 5th, 2016
WHEN: 7:30 PM EST
WHERE: @AirCanadaCentre, Toronto, Canada
WATCH: @FOXSportsOH
LISTEN: @WMMS 100.7 FM, @wtam1100, La Mega 87.7FM
– Cavaliers (13-5, 1st in Central): After their frustrating 111-105 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Friday night, the Cavaliers are carrying a three-game losing streak and looking for improvement.
Despite their recent set-backs, the Cavaliers are tied with the Raptors atop the Eastern Conference standings.
Coming into tonight’s match-up, the Cavs are leading the Eastern Conference in points (110.0 per game, 4th in NBA), three-pointers made (240, 2nd in NBA), and three-point percentage (.389, 2nd in NBA).
Tonight, Cavs guard/forward Mike Dunleavy, who has missed Cleveland’s previous two games with a mild concussion as a result of an on-court collision, is expected to make his return to the lineup. Dunleavy’s injury came in Tuesday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks. After showing concussion-like symptoms on Thursday, Dunleavy was placed in the NBA’s concussion protocol program.
Tonight’s match-up marks the third of four meetings between Cleveland and Toronto. The Cavs won the first two meetings this season (94-91 on Oct. 28 in Toronto and 121-117 on Nov. 15 in Cleveland). The fourth game is scheduled to be played on April 12th in Cleveland.
* Cavaliers projected starting lineup (subject to change) *
(PG) Kyrie Irving (6′-3″, 193 lbs)
(SG) J.R. Smith (6′-6″, 225 lbs)
(SF) LeBron James (6′-8″, 250 lbs)
(PF) Kevin Love (6′-10″, 251 lbs)
(PF) Tristan Thompson (6′-10″, 238 lbs)
* Cavaliers injury report *
– (F/C) Mike Dunleavy (concussion): Probable
– Raptors (14-6, 1st in Atlantic): Toronto comes into tonight’s match-up with the defending champs as winners in six straight games, including their dominating 128-84 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night. Per Elias Sports Bureau, Toronto’s 44 point margin of victory over the Hawks on Saturday night set a new Raptors franchise record.
DeMar DeRozan continues to lead the Raptors in scoring. DeRozan, who was selected 9th overall in the 2009 NBA Draft (Toronto), is averaging 27.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per contest.
Kyle Lowry leads the Raptors in the assist department. The former Villanova Wildcat stand-out and 24th overall selection in the 2006 NBA Draft (Memphis) is averaging 20.4 points, 7.4 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game. In Saturday’s impressive win over the Hawks, Lowry scored 17 points (6-of-9 shots and three 3-pointers), eight rebounds, eight assists and one block in 31 minutes.
Lowry truly has it going as of late, averaging 22.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 4.6 three-pointers on 64 percent shooting over his last five games.
In a recent article from ESPN, Lowry was asked if the game against the Cavaliers would provide a test for the Raptors. Lowry replied, saying:
“I don’t think it’s a test. You all asked me that the first game of the season that we played them. I think it’s just another regular-season game for us and a team that we always want to be better than. But we want to be better than every team in the NBA at the end of the day.”
Jonas Valanciunas, who was selected 5th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft (Toronto), will be cleaning the glass for the Raptors. Coming into tonight’s bout with the defending champs, the Lithuanian big man is averaging 12.6 points and a team-high 9.3 rebounds per game.
* Raptors projected starting lineup (subject to change) *
(PG) Kyle Lowry (6′-1″, 196 lbs)
(SG) DeMar DeRozan (6′-7″, 219 lbs)
(SF) DeMarre Carroll (6′-8″, 215 lbs)
(PF) Patrick Patterson (6′-9″, 230 lbs)
(C) Jonas Valanciunas (7′-0″, 265 lbs)
* Raptors injury report *
– (PG) Delon Wright (shoulder): Out
– (PF) Jared Sullinger (foot): Out
* All stats and information via www.basketball-reference.com, www.rotoworld.com, www.nba.com, www.espn.com, Elias Sports Bureau, and The Associated Press *
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