The Cleveland Cavaliers maintained their homecourt advantage against the Toronto Raptors after winning in Game 2, 115-105, at Rocket Arena on Monday to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round matchup in the playoffs.
It was a balanced attack for the Cavaliers, with Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Evan Mobley coming up with big numbers to destroy the Raptors, who never tasted the lead.
Mitchell had a game-high 30 points on top of seven rebounds and five assists. Harden tallied 28 points, five rebounds, four assists, and five steals, while Mobley had 25 points on 11-of-13 shooting and eight rebounds.
Harden also achieved a milestone. According to StatMuse, he was the first player in team history with at least 25 points and five steals in the playoffs since LeBron James in 2016.
James did it in Game 1 of the Cavaliers’ second-round series against the Atlanta Hawks. Cleveland went all the way to win its first-ever title.
While the Cavaliers still have a tough journey ahead, they are off to a good start against the Raptors, whom James famously punished in the playoffs for several years.
Cleveland has now won 12 straight games against Toronto in the playoffs, tying the league record for the longest winning streak against an opponent in the postseason. Interestingly, it started in 2016.
The Cavaliers traded for Harden in February, hoping that he could help carry the team in the playoffs and get them over the hump. So far, so good.
The one-time MVP has proven that he could be paired with Mitchell, while also further unlocking Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
Game 3 is on Thursday at Scotiabank Arena.