Cavs cage Raptors in Game 1, take 1-0 series lead with 126-113 win

Anything bought from the links helps support *Fear the Sword*. You can buy the *Let ‘Em Know* shirt HERE. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. To the Raptors’ credit, they didn’t roll over. They could’ve stopped competing and opted to save their energy for Game 2. Instead, they pushed through the finish line and kept things from getting completely away from them. But their chance to actually take this game ended with Strus’s run in the middle of the third quarter. Mitchell led the Cavs with 32 points. He did so efficiently by going 11-20 from the field, while also contributing four assists and two steals. This was the ninth time he scored 30 or more in the opening game of a playoff series. Despite how well Mitchell played, this was a complete team performance. Harden showed how valuable he can be. The Raptors struggled to keep him from getting to his spots. His court vision and ability to make every pass are invaluable in keeping the offense on schedule. Harden finished with 22 points on 8-17 shooting with 10 assists and two steals. Strus didn’t score the most points, but his short scoring spurts came at the right times to change the momentum of the game. He supplied 24 points on 8-10 shooting, which included going 4-6 from three in the victory. The Raptors were led by 24 points from RJ Barrett. Scottie Barnes had an inefficient 21 points on 6-14 shooting. Brandon Ingram had 17 points and four assists on 5-9 shooting. In the Donovan Mitchell-era, playoff series have been won by the team that prevailed in Game 1. Cleveland is hoping that trend continues here. Additionally, the victory brings the Cavs’ all-time record against the Raptors in the playoffs to 13-2. Game 2 will be back at Rocket Arena on Monday evening. Tip-off is at 7 PM.