OPENING TIP
No East team outside the Central Division seems to give the Cavs more fits than the very mediocre Raptors, who have won four straight games at The Q. Fortunately for the Cavs, Saturday’s game is in Toronto, where they typically fare better (although they dropped a 113-99 decision there earlier this year). But there’s no denying the young Cavs are finding themselves, having won three of four and playing with considerably more confidence as they continue to grow and learn how to close games.
Venue: Air Canada Centre, Toronto.
TV/Radio: 6:30 p.m. EST, FOX Sports Ohio/WTAM
All-Time Series: Cavs lead, 36-30. Raptors have won three straight and seven of 10.
PROJECTED STARTERS
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (12-32)
C Tyler Zeller
PF Tristan Thompson
SF Alonzo Gee
SG Dion Waiters
PG Kyrie Irving
TORONTO RAPTORS (16-27)
C Amir Johnson
PF Ed Davis
SF Landry Fields
SG DeMar DeRozen
PG Jose Calderon
Pregame notes:
• Thompson has compiled 11 double-doubles in the previous 18 games. He finished with 18 points on 8-for-14 shooting in Friday’s win over the Bucks.
• Irving scored 40 points vs. the Celtics, followed by 35 vs. the Bucks. That makes him one of three Cavs to score 35 or more points in back-to-back games -- joining LeBron James, World B. Free and Mike Mitchell.
• The Raptors are averaging 100.7 points per game in January, third-best in the East during the month.
• Tonight marks just the third time since 2001 the Raptors have played at home on a Saturday. They will be wearing camouflage uniforms as a tribute to Canadian Forces.
• Zeller and Davis were teammates for two seasons at the University of North Carolina.
• Former Cavs GM Wayne Embry (1986-99) is Raptors senior basketball advisor.
