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Takeaways from the Toronto Raptors Norman Powell-fueled win against the Cavaliers

By Michael Walton

TORONTO, CANADA - DECEMBER 16: Norman Powell #24 of the Toronto Raptors goes up for a dunk during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on December 16, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Peter Power/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - DECEMBER 16: Norman Powell #24 of the Toronto Raptors goes up for a dunk during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on December 16, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Peter Power/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors – OG Anunoby (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

Coming out strong

In their loss to the Clippers, the Raptors had 32-points in the first quarter. Against the Cavs, they racked up 32 points with three minutes left in the first and finished with 37-first quarter points against a putrid Cleveland defense. The Raptors are a much better team than the Cavaliers and they left no doubt about it after the opening frame, putting them away early the way they should.

The Raptors’ defense wasn’t amazing in the first quarter, giving up 29 points on 52.4-percent shooting to the Cavaliers. But Toronto’s early offensive output set them up for an easy victory and set the tone for the rest of the night. The Toronto Raptors 37 points in the first quarter came on 55.6-percent shooting, with contributions from six different players. They went 5-for-11 on 3-pointers (45.5-percent) and racked up 7 assists and no turnovers versus 6 turnovers for the Cavaliers.

Toronto had been dealing with a bit of 3-point shooting regression recently, so it was absolutely awesome to see them come out with such a strong shooting effort from deep. The Raptors’ five 3-point makes in the first quarter came from Patrick McCaw, Pascal Siakam, and Kyle Lowry, and most important they came with little-to-no hesitation from the shooters.

It was also great to see Marc Gasol (6.8 points per game) nearly matching his scoring average in the first quarter alone, collecting 6 points on 3-for-5 shooting from the field, the type of aggressiveness we don’t see from the big Spaniard enough. OG Anunoby was very active on the offensive glass in the first quarter, scoring on two separate putback layups that continue to put big-time pressure on a Cavaliers team that appeared to be folding early.

The Raptors played about as well as you could expect offensively in the first quarter, with the lack of turnovers contributing most to their offensive output. If you can’t force the Raptors to make mistakes then you are in trouble, as Nick Nurse’s Raptors rarely beat themselves, something that was clear on Monday night.

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