TORONTO, Ohio — Pascal Siakam matched his season high with 35 points, Chris Boucher scored 17 and the Toronto Raptors tightened the Eastern Conference playoff race by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 117-104 on Thursday night.
OG Anunoby returned from injury to score 14 points, Scottie Barnes had 11 and Fred VanVleet and Precious Achiuwa each added 10 as Toronto (41-32) snapped a three-game home losing streak and tied Cleveland for the sixth-best record with nine games to go in the regular season.
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Cleveland had won all three previous meetings with the Raptors this season, meaning the Cavs (41-32) hold the tiebreaker over Toronto and retain possession of the No. 6 seed in the East. That is the last guaranteed playoff spot, with teams finishing in the Nos. 7-10 spots headed for the play-in tournament.
Despite losing Thursday, the Cavaliers clinched at least a play-in tourney berth by virtue of the Washington Wizards' 114-102 defeat at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks. Cleveland has not been in the postseason since 2018, when it won the last of four straight Eastern Conference titles.
Siakam's six 3-pointers matched his career high. He shot 6 for 7 from long range.
Anunoby started for the Raptors, returning to the lineup after missing 15 games because of a fractured right ring finger. He shot 4 for 11 in 26 minutes, finishing 4 for 8 from behind the arc.
Lauri Markkanen scored 20 points and Lamar Stevens had 16 for the Cavaliers, who have lost two straight and three of five. Darius Garland had 18 points and 10 assists, and Kevin Love added 12 points and 10 rebounds. Cavs rookie Evan Mobley scored 11 points on 5-for-7 shooting and had eight rebounds.
Toronto missed six of seven attempts to start the game but made seven of its next 13, helping turn a 15-10 deficit into a 25-17 lead after one. The Raptors had assists on seven of their eight baskets in the first, including a no-look pass from Barnes to Siakam, who scored 12 in the quarter.
Thad Young and Boucher combined for 19 points in the second and the Raptors led 58-48 at halftime.
Garland scored nine points in the third but Siakam answered with 11 as Toronto took an 83-75 lead to the fourth.
TIP-INS
Cavaliers: Caris LeVert scored 11 points. … Stevens topped 15 points for the third consecutive game. … C Jarrett Allen (broken finger) missed his ninth straight game … G Rajon Rondo (sprained ankle) and F Dean Wade (knee soreness) each sat for the sixth straight game.
Raptors: G Gary Trent Jr. (left big toe) sat for the second straight game. … Anunoby last played Feb. 16 at Minnesota. … Play seven of their final nine at home, where they are 18-16. … Outscored Cleveland 18-4 in fast-break points.
UP NEXT
Cavaliers: Host Chicago on Saturday night.
Raptors: Host Indiana on Saturday night.