Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) takes a three point jump shot against Cleveland Cavaliers in game three of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 21, 2016.Dan Hamilton
Behind 32 points from DeMar DeRozan and a franchise playoff-record 26 rebounds from Bismack Biyombo, the Toronto Raptors stormed back into the Eastern Conference Finals with a 99-84 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night.
The Raptors had been annihilated while falling into a 0-2 series hole in Cleveland just days ago. They had looked exhausted from a long playoff run, bewildered and overmatched, like a sweep was imminent. The Raptors changed that storyline in Game 3, narrowing the series lead held by the highly favoured Cavaliers' to 2-1.
Biyombo was the story of the night, adding four blocked shots and seven points to his jaw-dropping night at the rim, while also dictating the night's physical tone and fuelled by the adoring Air Canada Centre crowd. He piled up opportunities to wave his finger at LeBron James – carrying on the legacy of his idol Dikembe Mutombo.
"We understand he feeds off the crowd, but he's also a huge impact on the glass at home," said James of Biyombo. "He gives them a lot of energy, he gives them a lot of second-chance points … he definitely gave them a boost tonight."
DeRozan had one of his best playoff games yet, shooting 50 per cent from the field. Kyle Lowry had 20 points, while Cory Joseph added 14. The Raptors held James to 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting, while Kyrie Irving contributed just 13 points behind a woeful 3-of-19.
The Raptors came into Saturday night with a 6-2 home record in the playoffs, and hadn't suffered three consecutive losses since November, so the homecoming offered a slice of hope in the sagging series.
DeRozan had one of his best quarters of the playoffs so far to open Game 3, 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting as the Raptors jumped out to a 27-24 lead. Lowry and DeRozan both hit their first shots of the night, and Lowry sunk two early three pointers. It seemed a sharp contrast to the sluggish way in which the two All Stars had begun several games in this postseason, and one could imagine Toronto was righting the ship.
Channing Frye entered the game in the second quarter and had eight points in just five minutes for Cleveland, hitting his first three field goals – including two threes – keeping the game tight.
But then Cory Joseph went off for a seven-point second quarter, DeRozan added another nine, and the team collectively hit six from beyond the arc in that stanza to take control. Biyombo nabbed 16 boards in the first half.
A scuffle ensued in the dying minutes of the quarter. It began with Biyombo fouling Kyrie Irving, which angered Tristan Thompson, so he and Biyombo got face to face, and several players swarmed around them. When Joseph tried to break up the two, Thompson waved his arm, which accidentally brushed James, and sent the superstar stumbling to the floor.
The Raptors took a decisive 60-47 lead into the half. It was nearly identical to the half-time score of 62-48 two nights earlier in Cleveland – only this time, it was Toronto in command.
While Toronto hit 50 percent from three-point land in the first half, that cooled inside the third quarter. J.R Smith hit a trio of three-point bombs for Cleveland, while James got hot too. The hefty lead shrunk at one point to just five.
Cleveland outscored Toronto 23-20 in the third quarter, but the Raptors had a cushion and took great momentum from one of the game's biggest moments. Joseph dribbled down and hit a stunning buzzer-beating three-pointer to send the Raptors into the final quarter up 80-70.
In the midst of a magical postseason run, Biyombo built on his exploding popularity once again with huge energy moments. His block on James was actually called a foul, but the crowd didn't seem to care, as Toronto's Congolese big man still got the better of the Cavs superstar in that moment. He scored six in the final quarter, including two huge dunks.
Biyombo's 26 boards bested his previous record of 25, set earlier this season in a victory over the Indiana Pacers. It also shattered the Raptors' previous playoff record set by Jonas Valanciunas – 19 rebounds – set in Game 1 against the Pacers.
"It was amazing, honesty, it was amazing, man," said DeRozan, shaking his head in awe of Biyombo's night, sitting alongside Lowry who was doing the same. "Without him tonight, we probably wouldn't get this win."
With less than two minutes left, the Cavs waved the white flag and subbed in several players from the end of their bench, including Timofey Mozgov.
Toronto, who made it look like Cleveland was unsolvable in the first two games, made adjustments to control the paint in Game 3. Through the first two games, the Cavs had scored 106 points in the paint compared to Toronto's 64. On this occasion, Toronto dominated that category 36-20.
"It's my job to protect the paint, " said Biyombo. "I'm not going to block every shot, but the idea for me is to change as many shots as I can. Tonight I was able to change a lot of shots."
The Raps also had one of their better shooting nights of the post-season, sinking 46 percent from the field
Game 4 is Monday night in Toronto before the series swings back to Cleveland on Wednesday.
Rachel Brady