Cavaliers Trounce Raptors, 116-78

For three excruciating days -- in Canada, through customs and back to Cleveland -- Kevin Love festered in his own failure.

Before the Eastern Conference finals shifted to Toronto for Games 3 and 4 last weekend, the Cleveland Cavaliers forward’s postseason was as sterling as his team’s perfect 10-0 start to the playoffs would suggest. Double-doubles were delivered, sometimes even by halftime. Plays were made on both ends of the court. Love lifted his game to a level that made his inclusion in a Big Three alongside LeBron James and Kyrie Irving appropriate, instead of playing the awkward third wheel.

It all started falling apart for the eighth-year forward in Toronto. Two games. Two losses. Two fourth quarters when he didn’t play a single second. And two stats lines he’d just as soon like to forget: Three points on 1-for-9 shooting and four rebounds in Game 3; 10 points on 4-for-14 shooting and seven rebounds in Game 4.

Making matters worse, Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue went to Channing Frye instead of Love in the fourth quarter of Game 4, and the Cavs immediately mounted a furious comeback, turning a nine-point deficit into a three-point lead in less than six minutes of game time -- with Frye scoring nine points during the 23-11 run.

With the way the Cavs have played north of the border this season -- they're now 0-4, including the regular season, at the Air Canada Centre -- Wednesday’s Game 5 at Quicken Loans Arena took on much greater significance. A loss would put the Cavs one game away from elimination going up to a building filled with fans representing not only a city starved for an NBA championship, but an entire nation.

The Cavs, and Love, made sure it never came to that by running the Raptors out of their building, embarrassing them 116-78 in Game 5 to go up 3-2 in the series and sapping them of their strength just as quickly as Toronto sapped Love's strength in the two games that preceded Wednesday night's blowout.

Thursday, May 26 Schedule (Time Central)

Oklahoma City at Golden State, 8 p.m.

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS - GAME 5

Friday, May 27 Schedule (Time Central)

Cleveland at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS - GAME 6

Saturday, May 28 Schedule (Time Central)

Golden State at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS - GAME 6 IF NECESSARY

Sunday, May 29 Schedule (Time Central)

Toronto at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS - GAME 7 IF NECESSARY

Monday, May 30 Schedule (Time Central)

Oklahoma City at Golden State, 7 p.m.

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS - GAME 7 IF NECESSARY