Game 2 is a pivotal game in the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors' playoff series. When LeBron James goes up 2-0 in a playoff series, his record is a staggering 21-0. When the Raptors fall to 0-2 in a playoff series, they are 0-6 all time. Some media members thought the Raptors could beat the Cavaliers this year but now seems like a long shot. After an eventful overtime Game 1 of the series, Cleveland came ready to play and brings a 2-0 series lead back to Cleveland, as the Raptors try to regroup after their eighth straight playoff loss to a LeBron James-led team.

Cleveland had their best two players step up in LeBron James and Kevin Love to combine for 74 points and 19 rebounds as the Cavaliers pick up the 128-110 victory to go up 2-0 in the series.

Kevin Love steps up

When Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue made the decision to let Kevin Love start at center over Tristan Thompson, it was questioned by some, including me. He suffered a thumb injury in the first round of the playoffs against the Pacers and it could have been a factor in his shooting slump. Entering Game 2, Kevin Love was averaging just under 11 points a game in the playoffs. Lue and the rest of the team made it a focal point to get Love involved early and often. Love stepped up in a major way as he tied with Kyle Lowry for the game-high in points at halftime with 17, and continued to contribute throughout the game.

Love finished the game with 31 points and 11 rebounds.

LeBron James and the Cavaliers offense

It wouldn't come as a shock to hear that James dominated a basketball game. This was his 103rd 30-point playoff game, which is only six behind Michael Jordan. After only scoring 16 points in the first half, James went on a scoring tear in the second half of Game 2, scoring a total of 43.

James was not only feeling it shooting the ball but was also dishing the rock around to his team, finishing with 14 assists. The Cavaliers scored at least 30 points in three of the four quarters of the game as LeBron James, Kevin Love, JR Smith, Jeff Green, and George Hill all reached double-digit point totals.

What does Toronto do from here?

The Toronto Raptors had the best record at home in the NBA during the regular season and now find themselves just two games away from the offseason. This is the first time all season that the Raptors lost consecutive home games. All-Star Kyle Lowry was facing foul trouble all night, including picking up his fifth personal foul with over eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Cleveland came out firing, but outside of the Lowry and DeRozan, the other three starters combined for just 23 points in Game 2 for the Raptors, which is not going to win many games. The Raptors will need to force more turnovers as the Cavaliers only turned the ball over three times throughout Game 2. Plain and simple, the Toronto Raptors need to figure something out between now and Saturday night's (May 5) Game 3 in Cleveland.
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