The Cavaliers will depend on the big-game expertise from Donovan Mitchell and James Harden.
The primary three video games of the Toronto Raptors-Cleveland Cavaliers first-round Jap Convention sequence have been determined by 10 or extra factors. The subsequent three have been determined by 5 factors or fewer, together with a white-knuckle time beyond regulation trip to the end of Sport 6.
In a 3-3 NBA playoff sequence, you’d count on it to be shut, and the numbers replicate that. The Cavaliers and Raptors have every scored 111.5 factors per recreation; the Cavs are taking pictures 47.2% from the sphere, 35% on 3-pointers and 72.2% on free throws; the Raptors are taking pictures 46.9%/36.7%/73.2%. Cleveland has collected 42.2 rebounds per recreation and Toronto 41.5.
In factors per 100 possessions, the Raptors have a slightest edge, outscoring the Cavaliers 113.2-112.4.
Via six video games, the mixture rating is 669-669.
Sport 7 in Cleveland (7:30 ET, NBC/Peacock) is becoming.
Listed here are three issues to observe in Sport 7:
1. Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell and James Harden
Mitchell has performed in 69 playoff video games, and Harden 179. That is Harden’s eighth Sport 7 and Mitchell’s third.
The Cavaliers will depend on their big-game expertise. Harden has scored at the very least 22 factors in Cleveland’s three victories, and whereas he’s a gifted passer who creates photographs for teammates, his scoring is necessary. He was 5-for-14 from the sphere and 1-for-4 on 3-pointers for 16 factors in Sport 6.
Mitchell’s 11-for-26 from the sphere, 2-for-10 on 3s and 0 free-throw makes an attempt in Sport 6 received’t get it executed. It’s not all on Mitchell and Harden, but it surely begins with them. It’s why the Cavaliers acquired Harden in a February commerce deadline deal.
2. Toronto’s Scottie Barnes
Scottie Barnes scores 25 factors and dishes 14 assists, tying the franchise report for many in a postseason recreation.
Barnes has produced huge video games within the sequence: 33 factors and 11 assists in Sport 3; 23 factors, 9 rebounds and 6 assists in Sport 4; and 25 factors, 14 assists, seven rebounds, three steals and three blocks in Sport 6.
He has been improbable, and Toronto wants his scoring and playmaking if it desires to advance.
It’s by no means on one participant. RJ Barrett’s scoring is critical, and Collin Murray-Boyles is taking part in extra like a veteran than the rookie he’s.
However for the Raptors, it begins with Barnes, the two-time All-Star who the Raptors decided was the franchise centerpiece.
3. House candy residence — or not
The house workforce has received each recreation on this sequence, and previous to Saturday’s Philadelphia-Boston Sport 7, the house workforce has received Sport 7 74.2% of the time (115-40). That is additionally the one first-round sequence the place at the very least one workforce has not received on the street.
Cleveland has been spectacular at residence this season, successful 16 of 19 at residence since Jan. 23. Whereas the house workforce has loved total success in Sport 7s, there was at the very least one Sport 7 street winner in every of the previous 10 seasons.
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Jeff Zillgitt has coated the NBA since 2008. You may e-mail him at jzillgitt@nba.com, discover his archive right here and follow him on X.