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Playing without five of their top players, LeBron James took matters into his own hands and carried the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 132-129 over the East-leading Toronto Raptors. With the win, the Cavaliers snapped the Raptors’ franchise record 9-game road winning streak. They’ve also won 9 of their last 10 home games against Toronto including the playoffs.
The Cavs were missing Kyle Korver, Rodney Hood, Cedi Osman, Tristan Thompson, Larry Nance Jr. and even head coach Tyronn Lue in this game. As he has done numerous times this season, James played one of his best all-around games, leading the Cavs to a win after being down by 15 points at the half.
The win accentuates James’ dominance of the team from the North, further establishing himself as the ultimate Toronto Raptors killer. The 4-time NBA Most Valuable Player is 40-10 all-time versus the Raptors, an incredible record that shows how he has owned them during his celebrated career.
During the last two years, James and the Cavaliers eliminated the Raptors from postseason play which includes a 4-0 sweep in last year’s playoffs.
Here are some of James’ records against the Raptors, including some important stats between the teams from their latest match-up, showing how he and his teams have dominated them since joining the league in 2003.
1. According to Elias Sports via ESPN Stats & Info, “James is the first player with 35 points, 15 assists and no turnovers in a game since turnovers were first tracked in 1977-78.”
He finished with 35 points, 17 assists, 7 rebounds, 1 steal and 0 turnovers in his latest face-off with the Raptors. The zero turnovers with 17 assists in 39 minutes is a huge accomplishment for James. He is averaging 4.3 turnovers in 37.1 minutes per game this season, the highest of his career. However, that is offset by his career-high 9.0 assists per game.
It’s also only the second time that a player has scored at least 30 points and delivered at least 17 assists in a game versus the Raptors. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook was the last player to accomplish the feat on March 8, 2015 when he had 30 points and 17 assists.
2. Also according to ESPN, James is only the third player in the “past 10 seasons to record 17 (or more) assists without a turnover in a game. Chris Paul did it twice during the 2016-17 season. Rajon Rondo did it twice (once in 2010, once in 2014).”
The only other players with 15 or more assists without a turnover against Toronto are Steve Nash (16 assists on December 22, 2007) and Jason Kidd (15 assists on January 8, 2006).
3. As noted above, James’ Cavaliers broke the Raptors’ franchise-record road win streak at 9 games. They had also won 12 of their last 13 games prior to their visit to the Quicken Loans Arena on Wednesday.
The Raptors are the only team in the league this season in the top five in offensive rating (third) and defensive rating (fifth). On the other hand, the Cavs came into the game fifth in offensive rating but are one of the lowest ranking defensive teams in the league at the 28th spot.
James led Cleveland to a big win against one of the top teams in the league as payback for the last time the two teams met. On January 11, the Raptors handed the Cavs one of their worst losses of the season in a 133-99 blowout loss in Toronto.
4. The Cavs won the ballgame despite allowing 79 points in the first half. The last time that a team had won after giving up at least that many points in the first half was on Nov. 7, 1990. The San Antonio Spurs rallied in the second half to defeat the Denver Nuggets after surrendering 90 first-half points.
The Akron, Ohio native scored nine points in the final 3:38 including seven from the free-throw line as he made one clutch free-throw after another. He made three of his last four from the charity stripe to seal the win.
5. James was the youngest player in NBA history to score 50 or more points on March 20, 2005 against the Raptors. The record has since been eclipsed by Brandon Jennings back in 2009. The Cavaliers star scored 56 points in that game which the Raptors won 105-98.
James was 20 years and 80 days old when he accomplished the feat only to be outdone by Jennings four years later at 20 years and 52 days old.
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6. The 56 points by James is the second-highest ever scored versus the Raptors next to Kobe Bryant’s 81 points on January 22, 2006. It’s also the third-highest scoring game of his career.
Prior to James’ 56, the highest points scored by an opponent was 51 which Allen Iverson achieved on January 21, 2001.
7. James was 14-0 versus the Raptors during his four years with the Miami Heat.
In seven of those 14 games, James scored at least 30 points with the highest at 38 on January 22, 2011.
8. At 27.7 points per game in 50 contests, James has the fourth-highest scoring average against the Raptors. That number goes up to 30.0 points in 10 games in the playoffs where he is 8-2 all-time.
The 14-time All-Star averages 50.9% field goal shooting and 78.0% from the line in these games.
9. James has the most points scored all-time against them at 1,385 points.
He also owns the most career field goals made at 486 and the most free throws made at 354. The Cavaliers forward is also sixth in games played at 50 versus the 23-year old franchise.
10. In terms of assists, James owns the most number of career assists versus the Raptors at 389.
When facing Toronto, number 23 averages 7.8 assists per contest.
Other interesting statistics pertaining to James and the Raptors:
– James is 6th all-time in career rebounds and 4th in career steals.
– He is tied with Russell Westbrook for the most triple-doubles against the Raptors with four. Additionally, he is one of only two players to have a triple-double in the playoffs against them. Jason Kidd is the other.
