No Kyle Lowry and the problems still barreled over the Toronto Raptors despite having a lead in the fourth quarter of game four against the Cleveland Cavaliers. After LeBron James took over early on and Kyle Korver caught fire in the second quarter, Kyrie Irving made sure the Cavs closed up shop in their 109-102 game four win over the Toronto Raptors.
Lowry missed his second consecutive game for the Raptors after suffering an ankle injury in game two. In game three, LeBron dominated and put the Cavs up 3-0 with the Raptors having potentially one final chance to save face and try to take a game in a series many thought they would absolutely be able to compete in. Little did those people know, the Raptors weren’t ready for this new version of LeBron James. A dominant, destructive and overwhelming player looking to further cement his legacy.
Things were knotted up after the first quarter but Kyle Korver erupted for 18 points in the second quarter alone, setting a new career-high for points in a quarter. One of the Cavs mid-season acquisitions came up big for Cleveland for the second game in a row and the Cavs took a 12 point lead into the half.
Toronto roared back to cut the Cavs lead to five heading into the fourth quarter and as LeBron continued to dominate, the Raptors had their own NBA All-Star starter pull his own weight. DeMar DeRozan finished with 22 points but he also handed out eight assists during the game, helping to make some plays in the absence of Kyle Lowry. Cory Joseph started in place of Lowry and scored 20 points and Serge Ibaka led the Raptors with 23 points on the day.
When it was all said and done, Kyrie Irving took over when it mattered most, the fourth quarter. The All-Star guard dropped 27 points and handed out nine assists for the game but Uncle Drew really shined late in the fourth.
The Cavs sweep moves Cleveland to 8-0 this postseason and winners of their last 11 games dating back to the 2016 NBA Finals. Cleveland now awaits the winner of the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards series.
