Damon Jones scored 19 points, including the go-ahead basket with 19 seconds left, to the lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to an 87-83 pre-season victory over the Raptors at Nationwide Arena. The Cavaliers record is now a respectable 5-2 with one game left in the pre-season. The Raptors fall to 2-3.
LeBron James scored 22 points and fellow all-star Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 19 for the Cavaliers. The Cavaliers defense limited the Raptors to just 16 points in the final period.
The Cavaliers played without four players who should be part of their rotation – guard Larry Hughes (finger), forward Drew Gooden (knee), forward Luke Jackson (ankle) and swingman Ira Newble (foot).
Donyell’s playing days in Toronto were not the best of times. Marshall’s 14 points did all of his talking though. Marshall left the Raptors as a free agent over the summer. “I loved the fans, the organization and ownership,” said Marshall. “I’ve moved on because I’m in a better time of my life. I’m laughing and smiling now and that’s all that matters.”
The Raptors, who play another exhibition game tonight in Winnipeg against the Portland Trail Blazers, made their first personnel moves of the preseason over the weekend, cutting guards Tierre Brown and Robert Pack, along with forward Bryant Matthews.
The moves leave Toronto with 16 players. The team must get down to 15 before the start of the regular season on Nov. 2.
For a complete look at the box scores click HERE.