Cleveland, OH (SportsNetwork.com) – Louis Williams turned back the clock on
Saturday, scoring a career-high 36 points off the bench to lead the
Toronto Raptors to a convincing 110-93 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Williams shot 9-for-19 and made all 15 of his free throws to help the Raptors
dig themselves out of an early 18-point hole and run away from the struggling
Cavaliers. He has been a key part of Toronto’s 11-2 start, reaching double
digits in scoring in nine of the last 10 games.
Kyle Lowry added 23 points and eight assists for the Raptors, who were coming
off a 6-1 homestand.
Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving netted 23 and 21, respectively, as the Cavaliers
lost their fourth straight game. LeBron James had 15 points and 10 assists but
sat the majority of the fourth with the game just about out of reach.
Anderson Varejao scored on three straight possessions early on and Love made
two free throws, as Toronto was forced to take an early timeout. Out of the
huddle, James’ steal led to an Irving transition layup and James beat Terrence
Ross to the basket and drew a goaltend. The Cavs led 12-0 4 1/2 minutes in
when Lowry finally broke the seal for Toronto with a corner 3.
James went behind the back to a cutting Varejao for another layup midway
through the first, leading to another Raptors timeout. Love made a hook shot
with 4 1/2 minutes to play to extend the lead to 24-6.
But Williams, as he has so often this season, came off Toronto’s bench and
injected life into the offense. Williams scored 12 points in the final 4:19
of the first to help pull the Raptors to within 34-21.
Williams drew a foul shooting a 3 early in the second and potted all three
free throws, sparking a 9-0 run. Irving split a pair at the line and Williams
made another 3-ball and just like that, Cleveland’s lead was down to one.
Naturally, it was Williams that gave Toronto its first lead of the game with
another 3-pointer as time expired in the half. The Raptors led 56-54 at
halftime.
DeMar DeRozan’s three-point play at 6:43 of the third kicked off another
Toronto flurry. Lowry’s layup at the end of the 15-0 surge put the Raptors up
by 11. Williams hit two more jumpers late in the stanza, and the Raptors led
85-71 through three.
The margin never dipped back into single digits.
Game Notes
Williams’ previous career-high was 31 points, set on Nov. 20, 2009 as a member
of the Sixers … Toronto has won four straight … Raptors forwards James
Johnson (ankle) and Tyler Hansbrough (shoulder) were inactive … Toronto
matched idle Memphis for the best record in the NBA … The Raptors shot 38-
of-42 from the foul line as a team … Cleveland hit just 3-of-16 from behind
the arc.
