The Cavaliers could clinch their second straight trip to the NBA Finals, while the Raptors are hoping to force a winner-take-all game when these teams clash in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals live from the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on Friday.
Cleveland will look to end the series in order to advance back to the NBA Finals, where it fell to Golden State last year in six games. Toronto, meanwhile, is trying to keep its longest playoff appearance in franchise history alive by forcing a Game 7 back in Cleveland on Sunday.
The Cavaliers ended a two-game skid last time out to break a 2-2 series tie and take a 3-2 edge. Cleveland had jumped out to a 2-0 series lead in the first two games at home, while the Raptors took control when the series shifted to Canada for Games 3 and 4 and will hope to keep their dreams of a first ever NBA Finals appearance alive in Game 6.
Cleveland defeated Toronto, 116-78, in a dominating statement win Wednesday to put itself in position to put the Raptors on the brink of elimination in their own building.
Kevin Love paced the Cavaliers with 25 points in Game 6, while Kyrie Irving and LeBron James each put up 23. James is looking to advance to the NBA Finals for the sixth straight season. He is 2-3 in the last five and 2-4 all-time in Round 4.
Klay Thompson had 10 rebounds in the victory, while James notched eight assists.
DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors with 14 points in the loss, while Kyle Lowry notched 13, going just 5 of 12 shooting. Lowry also netted a team-best six assists, while Jason Thompson had a club-best 10 boards.
Though they're facing elimination, the Raptors have reason to feel confident at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto went 32-9 at home in the regular season and is 8-2 there in the playoffs -- which includes Game 7 victories over the Pacers and Heat -- while the Cavaliers are 0-4 this season in the venue.
"We've got to play the same way we played the two home games we've had so far," Lowry told ESPN. "That's all we can do. Can't worry about the road. We might not get a chance to go back on the road if we don't play the right way."
Looking to avoid Game 7, the Cavaliers are looking to treat this as an elimination game for them as well.
"We want to come in with the approach that this is our Game 7," coach Tyronn Lue said via ESPN. "We've worked hard all season to get to this point, and we want to treat this next game as our Game 7."
Game Details & Live Stream
Matchup: Cavaliers at Raptors Eastern Conference finals Game 6
Venue: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Radio: Cleveland (WMMS 100.7); Toronto (TSN 1050)
Series: 3-2 Cavaliers.
Betting Odds: The latest betting odds can be found here.
Watch Online: This game can be live streamed for free here.
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