Toronto Raptors Defeat Short-Handed Cleveland Cavaliers 112-101 in NBA Cup Opener

The Cleveland Cavaliers suffered a 112-101 loss to the Toronto Raptors in their NBA Cup opener, hampered by injuries to key players including All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen. Despite a strong performance from Evan Mobley, who scored 29 points and showed increased aggression in the paint, the Cavaliers struggled to maintain offensive consistency and stamina, especially late in the game. Toronto's Jamison Battle was instrumental in securing the win, scoring 20 points with perfect shooting from beyond the arc in the final minutes. The Cavaliers showed resilience and competitive effort, managing to stay close through defense and timely runs, but ultimately lacked the depth and scoring options needed to overcome the Raptors. With five regular rotation players sidelined, Cleveland faces a tough path in the NBA Cup group stage, needing significant improvements and wins to advance. Coaches and analysts recognize this game as a learning opportunity for the team, highlighting the importance of roster adjustments and the contributions of remaining healthy players.