Cleveland Cavs All-Star Darius Garland chimed in on Tristan Thompson’s controversial dunk that nearly ignited a melee with the Toronto Raptors. With the Cavs ahead by 21, Thompson dunked the ball with four seconds left on the clock. The Raptors and their fans at Scotiabank Arena didn’t appreciate seeing Tristan run up the score, and a confrontation between players from both teams ensued before they were separated.
After the win, Garland discussed Thompson’s controversial play via FanDuel TV’s Run it Back.
“He already had scored. You’re back at home, I understand you want to score,” Garland said of the Canadian native. “You made your little floater, that was game. You made your appearance, you got in the scorebook.”
For Garland, Thompson’s at the twilight of a 13-year career and trying to get as many points as possible after checking in for the last four minutes. Either way, Garland has his back.
“I’m going to roll with my guy though, I’m going to roll with my teammate,” Garland said. “I had his back so it is what it is.”
Still, Garland couldn’t explain what compelled Thompson to dunk the basketball in that situation.
“I wish I knew. You know Tristan man he’s going to do whatever he wants to do,” Garland added. “They were playing hard, he wants the team to play hard, he wants to go dunk it and this was the result. I mean it was a lot of commotion.”
After the game, Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic addressed Thompson’s controversial dunk, per ESPN.com.
“I think what Tristan did there was no class and disrespectful,” Rajakovic said. “I’m not going to stand for that, for sure. I love when my team stands up for themselves.”
Thompson finished with four points, one rebound, and one assist in four minutes. Cavs All-Star Darius Garland added 14 points, eight assists, and three steals in the Cavs’ 131-108 blowout win.
Cavs’ Tristan Thompson fires back at Raptors’ Darko Rajakovic
John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Cavs veteran center Tristan Thompson clapped back at Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic. After Thomson scored with a 21+ point lead intact, the Raptors expressed their frustration by confronting the 13-year veteran. Then, after Rajakovic commended his players for standing up for themselves, Thompson responded to the Raptors’ coach.
Thompson called out Rajakovic for implementing a full-court press at the tail-end of a lopsided game.
“You wanna full court press with under a minute left in the game when you get cracked by 30 this will happen to you,” Thompson said. “Lose for draft lottery and be happy buddy boy.”
The Cavs swept the Raptors 4-0 throughout the 2024-25 campaign.
