The Raptors show they belong, and the Cavs now face real adversity Four nights ago, I wrote this: [Follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr: The best slams from all of basketball] Whether this series winds up going four games or five — and it's really tough to envision it lasting longer than that — the [Cleveland] Cavaliers are just in a different class than the [Toronto] Raptors, especially with … [Read more...]

Basketball Daily Dose: Dose: Raptors even series 2-2 Raptors even series vs. Cavs at 2-2 with 105-99 win at home   Jonas Valanciunas (ankle) was “available” to play, but never entered Monday’s Game 4, and the Raptors didn’t need him in the 105-99 win at home. Kyle Lowry went off for 35 points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals and four 3-pointers on 14-of-20 shooting in the Raptors biggest … [Read more...]

Cavs storm back in Game 4, but Raptors hold on for win 11:57 PM ET Brian WindhorstESPN Senior Writer Close ESPN.com NBA writer since 2010 Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years Author of two books print TORONTO -- The Cleveland Cavaliers enjoyed one of their most devastating 12 minutes of offensive basketball in the second half Monday night and, considering their playoff run, that’s … [Read more...]

Warriors' Green not suspended for kick to groin 8:52 PM ET Marc SteinESPN Senior Writer Close • Senior NBA writer for ESPN.com• Began covering the NBA in 1993-94• Also covered soccer, tennis and the Olympics print The NBA elected not to suspend Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green for his kick to the groin area of Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams in Game 3 of the … [Read more...]

Jonas Valanciunas will return to the Raptors for Game 4 vs. Cavs After looking like dead men walking after two blowout losses in Ohio, the Toronto Raptors stormed back to life on Saturday, scoring a 99-84 Game 3 win, riding a relentless interior performance from Bismack Biyombo and strong scoring from the backcourt troika of DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry and Cory Joseph to get on the board in … [Read more...]

Green explains kick, cites Westbrook 'acting' 3:08 PM 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 OKLAHOMA CITY -- Draymond Green repeated his assertion that his kick to the groin of Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams was accidental, while also pushing … [Read more...]

The Raptors might get Jonas Valanciunas back for Game 4 vs. Cavs After looking like dead men walking after two blowout losses in Ohio, the Toronto Raptors stormed back to life on Saturday, scoring a 99-84 Game 3 win, riding a relentless interior performance from Bismack Biyombo and strong scoring from the backcourt troika of DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry and Cory Joseph to get on the board in … [Read more...]

The Numbers Game: Numbers Game: Conf. Finals Welcome to another playoff-themed edition of The Numbers Game, focusing on the four teams still battling for supremacy in the Conference finals. Both series stand at 2-1 after Sunday's impressive blowout win by the Thunder, whose 133 points tied a franchise record in a playoff game. The Warriors only gave up 133+ points one time all season, in a loss to … [Read more...]

The Numbers Game: Numbers Game: Conference Final Welcome to another playoff-themed edition of The Numbers Game, focusing on the four teams still battling for supremacy in the Conference finals. Both series stand at 2-1 after Sunday's impressive blowout win by the Thunder, whose 133 points tied a franchise record in a playoff game. The Warriors only gave up 133+ points one time all season, in a … [Read more...]

Video: Jeremy Lin gets winded in 1-on-1 against a young Icelander In case you were wondering, and surely you were, because what else would you be doing with your life, Charlotte Hornets guard Jeremy Lin is vacationing in Iceland after being bounced from the playoffs. When in Iceland, do as the Icelanders do, which is eat ice cream, apparently. Makes sense. [Follow Dunks Don't Lie on … [Read more...]