Cavs' Harden, Mitchell, Mobley set NBA Playoffs records unseen since LeBron's 2016 run
TL;DR
James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, and Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers set NBA Playoffs records not seen since LeBron James' 2016 run. The Cavs defeated the Toronto Raptors 115-105, showcasing dominant performances that broke longstanding playoff records.
Key points
- Cavs defeated Raptors 115-105 in NBA Playoffs
- Harden, Mitchell, and Mobley set records from 2016
- Harden scored 28 points and had five steals
- Cavs had a strong first quarter performance
Mentioned in this story
Cavs' Harden, Mitchell, Mobley set NBA Playoffs records unseen since LeBron's 2016 run originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
'LeBronto' was the worst thing that ever happened to the Toronto Raptors. They have now revamped and LeBron James can no longer be the one who ends their hopes in the NBA Playoffs. But, the Cleveland Cavaliers found other players to continue that legacy. The Cavs had such insane performances by James Harden, Evan Mobley, and Donovan Mitchell that some postseason records from 2016 started getting shattered.
Cavs' Harden, Mitchell, Mobley break 2016 NBA Playoffs records vs. Raptors
When looking at the scoreboard that says 115-105, Raptors fans would be led to believe that this game was close when the reality says otherwise. The Cavs immediately buried the Raptors with a 26-19 first quarter performance that they could not recover from. After that, it was all just about making history in the NBA Playoffs.
To start, James Harden notched 28 points by knocking down nine of his 14 shots from the field while also registering five steals. He becomes the first Cavs player since LeBron James to have a 25-point and 5-steal game in the NBA Playoffs, per StatMuse.
Evan Mobley, on the other hand, was all about efficiency. He was able to knock down 11 of his 13 field goal attempts to score 25 points all while also grabbing eight rebounds. He became the first Cavs player since JR Smith to notch a 25 points on an 80% field goal percentage in the NBA Playoffs.
Topping it all off, Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points while knocking down 13 of his 23 shots from the field. This stat line now makes the Cavs guard have a top five all-time NBA Playoffs points per game as a guard.
It will not be a Raptors-Cavs NBA Playoffs series without players making history, whether it's on the bad or good side. This now marks the 11th-straight postseason loss of the Raptors to the Cavs too. Can the fifth-seed in the Eastern Conference end their postseason drought when the series goes back to Canada?
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Q&A
What records did James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, and Evan Mobley break in the NBA Playoffs?
They broke several playoff records that had not been seen since LeBron James' 2016 postseason run.
How did the Cleveland Cavaliers perform against the Toronto Raptors in the playoffs?
The Cavaliers won 115-105, dominating the game with a strong first quarter and impressive individual performances.
What were James Harden's stats in the playoff game against the Raptors?
James Harden scored 28 points, shooting nine of 14 from the field, and recorded five steals.
