Cavs move within one step of NBA Finals

Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said game 6 of the Eastern Conference NBA Finals would be a business trip after the Wine & Gold demolished the visiting Toronto Raptors 116-78 at the Q on Wednesday night.

It was a warm like summer night for the fans at the Cavs Fest with temperatures hovering over 80 degrees, and inside the Q when the game started the Cavs were just as hot.

Three Cavs stars scored 20 points or more, led by the resurgent Kevin Love’s 25,

LeBron James added 23 and Kyrie Irving finished with 21, but it was the Cavs suffocating defense that was the difference in this critical game 5.

The Cavs can clinch their second straight conference title and trip to the NBA Finals with a win in Game 6 on Friday night in Toronto.

"They kicked our butts, bottom line," Raptors coach Dwayne Casey said. "That's been all three ballgames."

James had eight assists and six rebounds in 31 minutes before checking out late in the third quarter with the Cavs up 37. He spent the fourth quarter resting on the bench while Cleveland's reserves finished the romp.

At halftime, James, Irving and Love had outscored the Raptors 43-34. Cleveland has won its three games in the series by a combined 88 points, and won its last four over Toronto at home by 110.

"They are a different team here," Casey said. "We came in here with a chance to do something special and we didn't get it done. They pushed us around and took what they wanted."