Evan Mobley Dominates as Cavaliers Cruise Past Raptors 136-106 in Season Opener
In a decisive victory, the Cleveland Cavaliers trounced the Toronto Raptors 136-106 in their home opener, setting a strong tone for the season. The star of the night was Evan Mobley, who delivered a standout performance with 25 points and eight rebounds, leading the Cavaliers' charge. The Raptors, despite a promising start, were ultimately outmatched—particularly in the paint, where Cleveland’s forwards, including Jarrett Allen, consistently overpowered Toronto's defense.
The Raptors' Immanuel Quickley, who had an impressive 13 points, four assists, and two rebounds before his injury, was forced to exit late in the first half after taking a hard fall. Quickley’s absence dealt a significant blow to the Raptors, especially as he had been one of their key playmakers up to that point. The injury occurred when Cleveland guard Darius Garland undercut him during a rebound attempt. Quickley landed awkwardly on his tailbone and had to leave the game after splitting a pair of free throws. Without him, Toronto struggled to maintain momentum, and Cleveland quickly capitalized, extending their lead by going on a dominant 18-4 run before halftime.
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Chris Boucher stepped up for the Raptors, contributing 18 points off the bench, including four three-pointers. Rookie Gradey Dick added 16 points, and Scottie Barnes—who had been heralded as the future of the franchise—put up a mixed stat line with nine points, six rebounds, and five assists. However, Barnes had a rough shooting night, managing only 3 of 14 from the field, and failing to hit any of his two three-point attempts. It was Barnes’ first regular-season game since suffering a season-ending injury in March, and the rust was evident.
On the Cavaliers’ side, Donovan Mitchell also played a significant role, adding 21 points, while Jarrett Allen contributed 14 points and seven rebounds. Cleveland was able to dominate in the paint, outscoring Toronto 68-38 in that area, which proved to be a major factor in their victory.
The Raptors’ injuries continued to plague them, with RJ Barrett ruled out just before tipoff due to a sprained shoulder, leaving the team further shorthanded. Despite leading by as much as seven points early in the game, Toronto couldn’t keep up with Cleveland’s deep roster, and Quickley’s injury only compounded their struggles.
Looking ahead, the Raptors will face the Philadelphia 76ers next, where they'll try to rebound from this heavy loss. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, head home with confidence to host the Detroit Pistons, eager to build on their strong season opener.
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