Cavaliers vs. Raptors: Game 4 Score and Twitter Reaction from 2016 NBA Playoffs

The Toronto Raptors sure know how to make their fans sweat. 

After controlling the majority of Monday’s Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals in the Air Canada Centre, they allowed the Cleveland Cavaliers to seize a fourth-quarter lead before eventually rallying back for the 105-99 victory. The series is now tied at two games apiece and will shift back to Cleveland for a critical Game 5 on Wednesday.   

Series tied. #WetheNorth pic.twitter.com/axA3xYdr8s

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 24, 2016

The backcourt combination of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry was unstoppable for Toronto, as they combined for 67 total points on 28-of-43 shooting from the field. Lowry set the tone with early threes (he finished with four) and posted 35 points, while DeRozan made a handful of contested shots in crunch time on his way to 32 points. 

Toronto also received critical play down low from Bismack Biyombo for the second straight game. He followed up his 26 rebounds and four blocks in Game 3 with 14 boards and three swats on Monday as the Raptors’ only legitimate paint presence while Jonas Valanciunas missed another contest. 

Cleveland received 29 points, nine rebounds and six assists from LeBron James and 26 points and six assists from Kyrie Irving, but Kevin Love struggled on his way to 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting. Joe Gabriele of Cavs.com said the foward was “clutching his left knee” in the third quarter, while Channing Frye played the fourth and finished with 12 points on four made three-pointers off the bench.

ESPN Stats & Info noted the home team winning was business as usual for this matchup: 

Raptors are 8-2 at home this postseason, 2-6 on road; Home team has won all 7 games in the Cavaliers-Raptors rivalry in 2015-16

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 24, 2016

The Raptors parlayed their Game 3 momentum into a quick start Monday and jumped out to an 18-10 lead within the first six minutes of the contest following a Lowry three-pointer. However, Cleveland used its Big Three of James, Irving and Love (18 combined first-quarter points) to climb back into the game and trim the deficit to 27-24 heading into the second.

ESPN Stats & Info pointed out the Raptors built that lead with strong perimeter defense:

Cavs were 4-17 outside the paint in the first quarter (5-6 inside paint – all in restricted area)

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 24, 2016

Toronto continued rolling early in the second (and even drew its first foul since the third quarter of Game 3, per SportsCenter) and pushed its advantage to 42-31 with just more than six …

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