Raptors' DeMar DeRozan (front) and Cleveland Cavaliers' Alonzo Gee struggle for the ball during the first half of their game in Toronto. (REUTERS/Aaron Harris)
TORONTO - It has often been said, and more often proven to be correct, that the toughest game played is the first following a long trip.
Given how hard they played, and at times playing at a high level, until crunch time arrived during their recent swing out West, it was almost expected the Raptors would show the ill effects when Cleveland paid a visit.
Even the crowd at the Air Canada Centre seemed to be plagued by the NBA’s version of jet lag, unable to will the Raptors to summon anything, content to sit on merely watch in what would turn out to be some rather unwatchable basketball.
