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Raptors recap: Cavs dominant in Game 5; Lowry and DeRozan quiet; JV returns
2016 NBA Playoffs
Toronto Raptors fans watch as the Toronto Raptors lose to the Cleveland Cavaliers in game 5 of the Eastern Conference final NBA playoff.

Raptors fans, dejected, watch as Toronto falls to the Cleveland Cavaliers in game 5 of the Eastern Conference final NBA playoff May 25.

Eduardo Lima/The Canadian Press

Game 5's one-sided loss has the Toronto Raptors within a game of elimination. They'll need to shine on home court Friday to force a Game 7

Jamie Ross

This article was published more than 8 years ago. Some information may no longer be current.

More from Game 5

Cathal Kelly: The Raptors weren't supposed to win Game 5, but they also weren't supposed to lose this bad

All of the momentum the Toronto Raptors carried into Wednesday night's Game 5 was promptly crushed by a 37-point first quarter, an offensively historic first half and an overall dominant performance by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The 116-78 defeat has the Raptors a game away from elimination, which they will try to avoid Friday night back on home court at the Air Canada Centre.

Depending on who you ask, this is how it was supposed to play out: A superior team (Cleveland) nearly unbeatable on home court takes it to their overachieving opponent (Toronto), which, entering play, had lost six of its last seven road games.

Monumental first half

The Cavaliers appeared to have this game wrapped up by the end of the first quarter, with the score 37-19. There was no doubt by the end of the first half. Cleveland piled on 28 more in the second quarter to carry a 31-point advantage into the second half.

Cleveland's LeBron James and Kevin Love alone combined for 43 points in the first half, while Toronto stars Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan were only 4-for-14 from the field over the opening two quarters.

Lowry, DeRozan cold

Toronto's two premiere players have a been a barometer for Raptors' success, or lack thereof, in this series. In the team's Game 1 loss, they combined for 26 points; in Game 2's loss, 32.

Toronto Raptors forward DeMarre Carroll, left to right, Jonas Valanciunas, DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry look on from the bench during second half.

Toronto Raptors forward DeMarre Carroll, left to right, Jonas Valanciunas, DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry look on from the bench during second half.

Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press

When they found their stride in Game 3, the dynamic duo put up 52 points before notching a combined 65 in Game 5. Wednesday, they cooled, knocking down 27 points between them – only a basket better than Kevin Love's 25.

Valanciunas returns

The Raptors centre played his first minutes since an ankle injury sidelined him during Toronto's second-round matchup against the Miami Heat on May 7. Valanciunas played 18 minutes and added nine points, but his contributions did little to allay the Raptors' woes.

Fan reaction

As expected, there was some dismay on the part of Toronto fans after such a shellacking:


Can they come back?

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Average isn’t close to good enough if the Raptors want to beat the Cavs Cathal Kelly believe's the Raptors will have to overachieve in order to beat the Cavs in a seven-game series.
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