The Toronto Raptors are the best team in the Eastern Conference this season and deservedly hold the number one spot but they were once again given a reminder that overcoming their biggest nemesis to reach the finals will be no easy feat.Heading into a matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers on the road on Wednesday night, the Raptors had a chance to make a statement and prove that they're ready to finally dethrone LeBron James as the king of the east.The Cavs have had a disappointing campaign and on paper, Toronto were the overwhelming favourites to win but LBJ had other ideas.Even though the Raps dominated most of the game, they suffered a familiar feeling at the buzzer as the best player in the world showed that he's still capable of almost single-handedly winning games.The four-time MVP produced another incredible display as he dug the Cavaliers out of a huge hole to lead them to a 132-129 victory against the conference leaders at Quicken Loans Arena.He posted 35 points, seven rebounds and 17 assists and repeatedly made big plays when his team needed it to let the visitors know, if they didn't already, that the road to the NBA Finals goes through him.The 33-year-old remarkably put up that stat line with no turnovers on the night, making him just the third player in the last 10 years to record 17 or more assists without a turnover, per ESPN Stats and Info.
James has dominated the men from Canada in the last two years, knocking them out of the playoffs in successive seasons.
Before the game, he admitted that they were in a much better position than Cleveland but this encounter showed that as long as he's on the court, his team will always have a chance to win.
"You can't give him 17 assists and also give him 35 points," Raptors head coach Dwane Casey said, per ESPN's Nick Friedell.
"You're not going to stop everything, especially with a great player like him. We understand what the game plan was, and we've got to make sure we don't give him both."
This marked the sixth time LeBron has had 15 or more dimes in a game this year, which is a career high, per ESPN Stats & Info.
The numbers illustrate just how influential he was for the Cavs in this big win. He scored or assisted on 80 of their 132 points, including 27 of the 34 points they put up in the fourth quarter, per ESPN.
It was another ridiculous performance in what has been an astonishing campaign in the King's 15th year in the league.
Cleveland's chances of reaching the finals for a fourth consecutive year may be in serious doubt, but with their superstar playing at this level, they can never be ruled out.
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