Raptors try to stay on top with Cavs in town

(Sports Network) - The Toronto Raptors hope to continue their strong play of late Saturday night when they welcome the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Air Canada Centre.

The Raptors have won two of their last three after a hard-luck four-game losing streak, which included two overtime setbacks.

On Thursday, DeMar DeRozan threw in a fantastic fadeaway jumper at the buzzer to defeat the Orlando Magic, 97-95. That gave the Raptors a season sweep of the Magic for the first time since the 2006-07 season.

"The coaches drew up a good play," said DeRozan, who scored 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter. "I just tried to get to my shot. Usually we run it going to my right, but that was the first time we ran it going to my left. I knew if I got a good shot off, I had a chance at it going."

DeRozan led the way for the Raptors, followed by 21 from Amir Johnson. Four other Raptors - Ed Davis, Jose Calderon, Alan Anderson and Terrance Ross - also scored in double figures.

Toronto shot 50 percent from the field on Thursday, but only managed 25 percent from long range.

The Raptors are 11-9 north of the border this season and will play two straight and five of the next six games at home.

All-Star Kyrie Irving and the Cavaliers shoot for their third straight win Saturday night and are coming off a 113-108 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Irving, who was just selected to his first All-Star game, pumped in 35 points on 12-of-17 shooting versus the Bucks and is averaging 31 ppg in his last four games for the Cavs, who trailed after the first quarter and responded with 30- plus points over the last three periods.

"In the first quarter, we were just pressing and playing too fast," Irving admitted. "We got ahead of ourselves. In the third quarter, (Milwaukee) came out and made shots and I made a few shots. We got back into it and that was basically the game. We just kept crawling back."

Tristan Thompson added 18 points and rookie Dion Waiters chipped in 16 for the Cavs, who have won back-to-back games for just the second time this season.

The Cavs shot 52.3 percent (45-for-86) from the floor and outscored Milwaukee, 52-40, in the paint.

Cleveland will return home after visiting Toronto to host the Golden State Warriors and is just 6-20 as the guest this season.

The Raptors won this season's first matchup with Cleveland, a 113-99 road decision on Dec. 18. Toronto has won six of its last eight in this series.

The Sports Network