CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Cavaliers last faced the Toronto Raptors on Nov. 24. Considering the changes the Cavaliers have gone through, the nearly five-month gap might seem more like five seasons.
Since the Raptors' 110-99 victory in Toronto on Nov. 24, the Cavaliers added James Harden in a midseason trade and gained momentum in the second half after a slow start to get the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference and home-court advantage in the first-round
series that starts Saturday.
The Cavaliers are 21-9 since acquiring Harden on Feb. 4, the second-best winning percentage in the East.
While Harden is still chasing his first championship, Donovan Mitchell is trying to at least get to a conference final for the first time.
Even though Mitchell remains Cleveland's top player, having a veteran like Harden has been a benefit.
“I think when you have another guy who’s been that to a higher level, I think that’s something that you have a little comfort in having that communication. I think makes it a lot easier as well to have those communications, have those conversations and share those experiences,” Mitchell said.
Harden is averaging 20.5 points with the Cavaliers. Mitchell was sixth in the league with 27.9 points per game.
Toronto is the fifth seed and in the postseason for the first time in four years, as Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes have developed into a cohesive frontcourt tandem. Ingram, acquired during last year's trade deadline from New Orleans, is averaging 21.5 points after missing most of last season due to injuries.
Barnes and Ingram are also the only teammates in the East to both total at least 1,400 points and 400 rebounds this season.
“I’m ready to be effective in any way that I can be, whether it’s offensively or defensively. But to your point, at some point in the game, you’ve got to give it to your best players and let them go make a play. So yeah, I’ll be ready,” Ingram said.
This is the fourth time the Cavaliers and Raptors have met in the playoffs, but the first time since 2018.
Cleveland won the 2016 Eastern Conference finals in six games, then swept Toronto in the conference semifinals in 2017 and ’18. The Cavaliers are 7-0 against the Raptors in home playoff games.
Cleveland's new core four of Harden, Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen has played just seven games and 92 minutes together. They have performed at a peak level, outscoring opponents by 26.7 points per 100 possessions, but it has been a limited sample size.
“It probably took me a game or two just to figure out where they like the ball and what to do, what not to do, and so I’m pretty familiar,” Harden said. “In the postseason for the most part, they’re going to guard you one way until Game 3, maybe Game 4, and make an adjustment. We’ll figure out what works, figure out how they guard us, and then talk about how we can adjust and counter them."
Barnes and Mobley renew their rivalry, but this time it is on a bigger stage.
The two have known each other since they were teenagers and were roommates during USA Basketball camps.
Barnes was the No. 3 pick by the Raptors in the 2021 draft and went on to edge Mobley, taken one pick later, to win NBA Rookie of the Year. Mobley then had a breakout campaign last season, becoming the first Cavaliers player to be voted NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Barnes has been a force at both ends of the floor this season. He was third on the Raptors in scoring (18.1 points per game), but also was the only player in the league this season with at least 600 rebounds, 400 assists, 100 blocks and 100 steaks.
“I feel like I’ve been great defensively but, for sure, I think I’ve taken it to another level. But also, finishing out the season being healthy is a great part of that,” Barnes said.
Mobley is averaging 18.2 points and 9.0 rebounds. His defense hasn't been as consistent as last year, but a strong performance against Barnes could provide momentum for the rest of the playoffs.
“They have Scotty, they have Brandon Ingram, a lot of different guys that have length and size, so they’re probably going to come out, try to play physical. We got to match that and exceed that,” Mobley said.
Toronto guard Immanuel Quickley is questionable with a right mild hamstring strain. Quickley, who is averaging 16.4 points and 5.9 assists, was injured in the season finale against Brooklyn.
Allen continues to deal with knee tendinitis, but feels like he will be ready to go for Game 1.
Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic is the first European coach to reach the playoffs after leading his team for an entire season.
Rajakovic, who grew up in Serbia, is in his third year with the Raptors. He led Toronto to 46 wins this season, a 16-victory improvement over last year.
Tuomas Iisalo coached Memphis in the playoffs last season, but the Finland native got the job with nine games remaining in the regular season after Taylor Jenkins was fired.
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