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Find out the scoop on the CAVS from award-winning sports writer Bob Finnan.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Game 6: Cavs at Raptors

TORONTO RAPTORS (3-3) 92, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (3-3) 77
at Air Canada Centre in Toronto
Wednesday
RADIO/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED:
The Raptors aren't known as a good defensive team, but they put the clamps on the Cavs on Wednesday. They held the Cavs to a season-low 29.6 percent from the field. They made just 24 of 81 attempts, meaning they missed 57 shots on the night.

It was their first back-to-back set of the season. They didn't respond very well.

As I've been writing as of late, it all starts with point guard Kyrie Irving. Well, he was quite average on Wednesday. Once again Jose Calderon ran roughshod over him. He made just 3 of 13 shots from the field and had 12 points, four assists and three rebounds. He turned the ball over two times.

Calderon has averaged 14 points and 11 assists in the two games against the Cavs. At least the Raptors didn't have 35 assists like they did in the season opener on Dec. 26.

Raptors power forward Andrea Bargnani, a nimble-footed, quick-shooting 7-footer, is a tough matchup for anyone. He chewed up Antawn Jamison, and anyone else the Cavs put in front of him, to the tune of 31 points. Bargnani made 11 of 16 from the field, 3 of 7 from the 3-point line. He's seventh in the NBA in scoring at 24 points per game.

This was the first game of a seven-game, 13-day road trip. It was one of the most winnable games of the road trip. It could get ugly.

The Cavs played with forward/center Samardo Samuels, who didn't make the trip to Toronto because he lost his passport. Ryan Hollins has taken over the role of backup center for the time being.

Rookie guard Mychel Thompson made his NBA debut.

UP NEXT: The Cavs travel to Minnesota at 8 p.m. Friday.

STARTERS
SF Omri Casspi (6-9, 225) vs. Rasual Butler (6-7, 215)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Andrea Bargnani (7-0, 256)
C Anderson Varejao (6-11, 260) vs. Amir Johnson (6-11, 215)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. DeMar DeRozan (6-7, 216)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Jose Calderon (6-3, 211)
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – F/C Samardo Samuels, C Semih Erden
Raptors - C Aaron Gray, F Linas Kleiza
OFFICIALS
Ron Garretson, Eric Dalen, Eric Lewis

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