Raptors Stumble in Season Opener, Fall 136-106 to Cleveland Cavaliers
TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors opened their 30th NBA season on Wednesday night with a disappointing 136-106 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers at Scotiabank Arena. Despite an enthusiastic welcome from fans who saw former Raptors stars like Damon Stoudamire, T.J. Ford, and Jerome Williams back in town, Toronto struggled to find their rhythm on the court.
Rough Start for the Raptors’ Core
Forward Scottie Barnes, a cornerstone in Toronto’s lineup, had an unusually challenging season debut. Shooting just 3 for 14, Barnes finished with nine points, falling short of expectations. Toronto’s night didn’t improve much as turnovers plagued the team – the Raptors handed the Cavs 19 turnovers, which Cleveland converted into 30 points.
Chris Boucher emerged as a bright spot off the bench, contributing 18 points, while rookie Gradey Dick showed his potential with 16 points. Guard Immanuel Quickley, newly acquired in the offseason, added 13 points in 14 minutes before an untimely exit due to injury. Quickley was fouled in the second quarter, took a heavy fall under the basket, and did not return. The Raptors later reported a right pelvic contusion, with Quickley’s status for Friday’s game now uncertain.
Final
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Dominance in the Paint by Cleveland
The Cavaliers capitalized on the Raptors’ defensive lapses, led by Evan Mobley’s efficient shooting night. Mobley scored 25 points on 9-for-14 shooting, with Cleveland outscoring Toronto 68-38 in the paint. Donovan Mitchell added 21 points, while Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen also contributed to Cleveland’s inside game. Cleveland outpaced Toronto in every quarter, extending their lead to as much as 33 points in the second half.
Key Moments and Stat Lines
A key stretch for Cleveland came in the final minutes of the first half, where they outscored the Raptors 20-4 over a span of five minutes. Toronto’s inability to secure the ball led to six turnovers in this period, allowing Cleveland to break away with five dunks, three from Allen, for a halftime lead of 69-49.
Cleveland’s Dean Wade started in place of injured forward Max Strus (right ankle) and contributed eight rebounds, helping the Cavaliers dominate on both ends of the floor.
Looking Ahead
Toronto will regroup as they prepare to host the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night, welcoming former Raptors head coach Nick Nurse back to Scotiabank Arena.
