It's safe to say no one saw this Eastern Conference Finals result coming. After running the Raptors off the floor in the first two games of this series, it looked like LeBron James and the Cavaliers would cruise to the NBA Finals.
Raptors vs. Cavaliers 2016 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch NBA playoffs online
Can the Raptors really take a 3-2 series lead?
Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Then the series moved to Toronto and everything changed. The Raptors blew the Cavaliers out in Game 3, and in Game 4, behind big games from Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan and Bismack Biyombo, they were able to stave off a Cleveland comeback and tie the series at two.
The issue for the Cavaliers appears to be twofold. One, they keep launching three-pointers and misfiring on them. Cleveland went just 13-for-41 from deep in Game 3 after hitting seemingly everything it threw up in the first two games. The Cavaliers also have to come up with some answers for Lowry and Biyombo. Lowry went for 35 points in Game 4 and Cleveland had no match for Biymombo’s relentless energy all night. He finished with 14 rebounds and a number of big hustle plays.
But in order to pull off the upset, the Raptors must eventually win a game in Cleveland. That’s the challenge in Wednesday’s Game 5. For now, though, they can take solace in the fact that this series is tied and primed to go at least six games. That’s better than anyone thought they’d do. Who’s to say they can’t surprise us even more?
How to watch Cavaliers vs. Raptors Game 5
Place: Quicken Loans Arena
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Streaming: WatchESPN
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Bismack Biyombo should be your new favorite player
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