Pascal Siakam scored 36 points, Jakob Poeltl had 14 points and 11 rebounds and the new-look Toronto Raptors recovered after squandering a 19-point lead and held on to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 124-121 on Monday night.
Caris LeVert scored 31 points and Donovan Mitchell had 26 for the Cavaliers, who have lost two straight and three of five. Isaac Okoro, Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill each had 16 points for Cleveland.
Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said Siakam should have been called for travelling on Toronto’s final inbounds pass.
“He travelled for sure,” Bickerstaff said. “There was no doubt about it. When you inbound the ball on the sideline after a timeout, you’re not allowed to move and he clearly worked his way up the sideline. That’s a violation, the ball should have been ours with a chance to win the game.”
Okoro and Mitchell missed 3-point shots with the Cavaliers trailing by two in the final minute of the fourth quarter.
“I thought we got open looks,” Bickerstaff said. “We’ve just got to knock them down.”
The Cavaliers fell to 5-3 since learning that forward Evan Mobley (left knee surgery) and point guard Darius Garland (fractured jaw) will be sidelined until February.