Heartbreak defeat for Raptors

LEBRON James notched a triple-double and the Cleveland Cavaliers roared back to stun the Raptors 113-112 in overtime in Toronto yesterday in game one of their NBA playoff second-round series.

It was a heartbreaker for the Raptors, who had led all night only to see James knot the score at 105-105 with 30.9 seconds left in regulation.

Toronto, the Eastern Conference top seed for the first time in franchise history, missed its last 11 shots of regulation and Cleveland made the team pay, taking the lead for the first time on Kyle Korver’s three-pointer to open overtime.

The Raptors wouldn’t regain the lead. Kyle Lowry converted a three-point play to pull Toronto within 113-112 with 57 seconds remaining.

After Cleveland was called for a shot-clock violation Toronto had a last chance, but Fred VanVleet missed a potential game-winner.

“Everybody contributed tonight, and we needed it,” James said.

The heartbreaking defeat is sure to raise the spectre of playoffs past for the Raptors, who fell to the Cavs in six games in the Eastern Conference finals two years ago and were swept by Cleveland in the second round last year.

James, who said he was “burnt” after the Cavs clinched a seven-game firstround win over Indiana on Sunday, made just 12 of 30 shots from the floor but still recorded the 21st playoff triple-double of his career with 26 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds.

“I definitely wasn’t as efficient as I like to be,” James said. “It was probably one of my worst games of the season.

“But at the end of the day the only thing that matters is that my teammates stepped up and got the win when I wasn’t at my best.”

JR smith scored 20 points and Korver added 19. Tristan Thompson came off the bench to add 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavs.