CLEVELAND — Even with Kawhi Leonard back in the lineup, the best fight Toronto put up in Cleveland was when Serge Ibaka threw a punch at Marquese Chriss.
Ibaka and Chriss were ejected for fighting during the Cavaliers’ 126-101 victory over the Raptors on Monday night (Tuesday morning, Philippine Time).
Serge Ibaka of Toronto is escorted off the court after getting ejected in a game against Cleveland. | AP photo
Leonard scored 25 points after sitting out Sunday’s game, but the team with the league’s second-best record trailed most of the way.
Collin Sexton scored 28 points and Kevin Love had 16 points and 18 rebounds for Cleveland, which dominated the second half and seemed to gain momentum after the fight with a second left in the third quarter.
Ibaka went to the floor after he and Chriss were battling for position under Cleveland’s basket as the Raptors attempted a full-court pass that sailed out of bounds.
Ibaka shoved Chriss from behind and grabbed near his neck before throwing a punch. Chriss responded with a punch before players from both teams separated the two. Ibaka immediately headed for the locker room and both players were kicked out after the officials conferred.
“I saw it out of the corner of my eye,” Love said. “It happened so fast. Everybody almost wants to run out there and check what’s going on. It was broken up quick. That’s usually how it goes.”
Neither player was available for comment following the game. A Raptors spokesman said Ibaka was reacting to something Chriss said to him after the Toronto player was knocked to the floor.
Cleveland held a 91-77 lead when the fight occurred and poured it on in the fourth quarter. Toronto coach Nick Nurse pulled his starters as the Cavaliers pulled away and the lead reached 27 points with just under a minute to play.
“That was a great win for us,” Love said. “Especially against a real good team at home. It was fun.”
Cedi Osman scored 19 points and Ante Zizic had 17 for Cleveland, which placed six players in double figures.
Leonard was 11 of 19 from the field, but the Raptors only led briefly in the first half.
“They did a great job, they played well, and they made open shots,” Leonard said. “That’s pretty much the way the game played out.”
Kyle Lowry scored 14 points for the Raptors. Toronto (48-20) trails Milwaukee by 2 1/2 games for the best record in the league.
Toronto rolled to a 125-104 win over the Heat without Leonard, tying a franchise record with 21 3-pointers and outscoring Miami 63-24 from beyond the arc.
Leonard, averaging 27 points this season, hasn’t appeared in more than two consecutive games since playing in five straight from Jan. 25 through Feb. 5.
The Raptors, showing signs of being tired in their third straight road game, struggled throughout the game. Toronto fell behind by 10 points and committed 11 turnovers leading to 13 points for the Cavaliers.
Cleveland coach Larry Drew said before the game Love, who hasn’t played in back-to-back games since returning from foot surgery, will sit out Tuesday in Philadelphia.