Raptors absorb major beatdown in Game 5 2:12 AM ET print CLEVELAND -- The Toronto Raptors have accomplished so much this season. But they just can’t seem to hang with the Cleveland Cavaliers on the road in the Eastern Conference finals. After holding serve at home to even the series 2-2, the Raptors were trounced yet again in Cleveland, as they fell 116-78 on Wednesday in Game 5. “They … [Read more...]

How the Thunder experimented all season to find winning formula 1:52 PM ET print It had a perfect prize fight billing. The Splash Brothers versus the Stache Brothers. It was going to be the Golden State Warriors' beaming radioactive lightshow against the Oklahoma City Thunder's physical ground and pound. The Thunder had just taken out the 67-win Spurs leaning heavily on a super-big … [Read more...]

Kyle Lowry's reaction to Game 5's stat sheet contains multitudes There were some things worth discussing after the Cleveland Cavaliers decimated the Toronto Raptors in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday — Kevin Love's resurgence, the return of Cleveland's shot-making, the way the Cavaliers' blitzing of pick-and-rolls featuring Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan totally … [Read more...]

Social politics: Toronto city councilor roasted by Cavs Twitter After dropping two games in disappointing fashion to the Raptors in Toronto, the Cavaliers posted to the team's Twitter account a video of several players citing the urgency needed in Cleveland on Wednesday, under this LeBron James quote: "Going back home we have to play a lot better, and I think we will." [Follow Dunks Don't … [Read more...]

What changes can Warriors make to save season? 9:30 AM ET Ethan Sherwood StraussESPN Staff Writer Close Covers the Golden State Warriors for ESPN.com Contributes to ESPN's TrueHoop blog Hosts TrueHoop TV Live print The Warriors are in trouble, so naturally the talk turns to adjustments. Is there some magic trick that can save them? Or are the Thunder simply better in ways that … [Read more...]

LeBron James: Didn't believe this was a really adverse situation 3:53 AM ET Dave McMenaminESPN Staff Writer Close Cavs and NBA writer for ESPN.com Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14 and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09 Syracuse University graduate print CLEVELAND -- Following the biggest rout in Cleveland Cavaliers franchise playoff history, a 116-78 … [Read more...]

Silver: Reports show refs 90 percent correct 3:56 AM ET ESPN.com news services print Commissioner Adam Silver says the NBA doesn't have a choice on whether to be as transparent as possible in determining whether key crunch-time plays were officiated correctly "with so many cameras focused on the action, with so many other kinds of services providing that same information to our fans … [Read more...]

Basketball Daily Dose: Dose: Can you feel the Love? Cavaliers destroy Raptors 116-78 for 3-2 lead in series   The Cavaliers got off to a hot start in Wednesday’s Game 5 and then went on a 23-4 run to open up a record-setting 31-point lead at halftime in a blowout against the Raptors. The 31-point halftime lead was a Conference Finals record, as well as the greatest deficit the Raptors have ever … [Read more...]

Raptors absorb a major beatdown in Game 5 11:47 PM ET print CLEVELAND -- The Toronto Raptors have accomplished so much this season. But they just can’t seem to hang with the Cleveland Cavaliers on the road in the Eastern Conference finals. After holding serve at home to even the series 2-2, the Raptors were trounced yet again in Cleveland, as they fell 116-78 on Wednesday in Game 5. … [Read more...]

Cavs find the touch, torch Raptors to get within one win of Finals So, as it turns out, the Cleveland Cavaliers didn't forget how to shoot and defend. They just forgot to pack their A-game when they left for Canada, and when they got back to Quicken Loans Arena for Game 5, they found it. Man, oh man, did they find it. [Follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr: The best slams from all of basketball] … [Read more...]