Despite enjoying arguably their best season in franchise history, the Toronto Raptors were given a strong reminder that the road through the Eastern Conference still goes through LeBron James.

The Raptors are the number one team in the east and the favourites to make it to the finals and end the Cleveland Cavaliers' three-year streak.

But stopping LeBron James from contesting his eighth straight finals is easier said than done and he proved that once again as he produced a historic display to see off Toronto on Wednesday night.

The King inspired his team to overcome a 15-point half-time deficit to claim a huge 132-129 win at Quicken Loans Arena.

LeBron posted a monster stat line of 35 points, seven rebounds and 17 assists. He also remarkably put up these numbers without committing a single turnover.

Per ESPN's Dave McMenamin, the four-time MVP is the first player in NBA history with 35-plus points, 15-plus assists and zero turnovers since the NBA started recording turnovers in 1977-78, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

This can easily be looked at as a statement win for Cleveland as they showed they can still compete with any team in the east, even though they've had a disappointing season.

But James said this wasn't a message to Toronto or any other team and believes they should be remembered for what they've done in the past.

"It's a good win for us because of how depleted we are on our roster and everything that's been going on," James said, per McMenamin.

"It's a good win for us against a very good opponent. But I don't need to remind anybody about what my teams are capable of doing. So, that wasn't a factor."

On the contrary, assistant coach Larry Drew - who is filling in for Tyronn Lue who has taken a leave of absence for health reasons - said this win could prove to be a turning point for the Cavs.

"I always say there is one game during the season that changes your team," Drew said. "That game can be early, it can be midway, it can be late.

"There's always one game that kind of changes your team, the mindset. And I really believe tonight's game might have done that for us."

With a shorthanded team that was missing Tristan Thompson, Kyle Korver, Larry Nance Jr., Rodney Hood and Cedi Osman, this was a morale-boosting victory for the Cavaliers.

It's too late for them to catch the Raptors at the top of the standings or even the Boston Celtics for second-place, but regardless of where they finish, they'll still be the team to beat in the playoffs with the world's best player at their disposal.

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