Toronto rested, ready for third shot at LeBron, Cavs

TORONTO» The Toronto Raptors seem to have everything lined up in their favor heading into their postseason matchup against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

They’re rested. The Raptors feel they are ready. They have home-court advantage.

But they’ve been confident before heading into a playoff showdown with James and have come up short — twice.

“Gotta go through the best to get to that trophy,” All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan said. “Every step of the way we’re going to come across somebody.”

The Raptors open their second-round playoff series at home to James and the Cavs on Tuesday night. Cleveland has eliminated Toronto in two straight postseasons, including the 2016 conference finals and a second-round sweep last year.

This time, however, Toronto is the top-seeded team in the East after a team-record 59-win season. The Raptors have been off since a Game 6 victory over Washington last Friday night finished their firstround series, while James and the Cavs were pushed to the limit in grinding out a Game 7 win over Indiana on Sunday.

That’s a stark contrast to 2016, when Cleveland had eight days of rest before facing a Toronto team that had played consecutive seven-game series. Or last year, when the Cavs got a week off while waiting for Toronto to complete a sixgame victory over Milwaukee in the opening round.

“They’re coming off a series where they were banging and bumping for seven games,” Raptors guard Kyle Lowry said. “I think our energy has been great. I think the days off will definitely have helped us a little bit.”

James, meanwhile, has shouldered a heavy load for the Cavs, scoring 40 or more three times in the first round. He played 43 minutes in Game 7, and was briefly forced off the court in the second half because of leg cramps.

Nevertheless, Raptors coach Dwane Casey expects James to be fully fresh once tip-off time arrives Tuesday.

“I don’t believe he’s tired,” Casey said. “He’s on a mission. I’m not saying he’s a lying man, but I don’t think he’s tired.”

Curry expected to return for Game 2.

OAKLAND, CALIF.»

Just as the Golden State Warriors had hoped, Stephen Curry is poised to return from a left knee injury to play in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals Tuesday night against New Orleans.

Coach Steve Kerr listed the two-time MVP as probable Monday with the idea that he’s a go to play as long as no issues arise with Curry’s sprained left knee in the morning shootaround or before the game. Kerr didn’t say whether Curry would start or come off the bench but he won’t have a minutes restriction.

“He’ll want to get his legs underneath him,” Kerr said after practice. “So we’ll try to find that balance between being cautious and letting him go a little bit.”