The Cleveland Cavaliers kicked off their playoff series with a 126-113 over the Toronto Raptors to take a 1-0 series lead in the first-round best-of-seven series.

It was a sluggish first half for Kenny Atkinson’s squad, but a huge third quarter in which the Cavs outscored their opponents by a 36-22 count gave the wine and gold (or blue in yesterday’s case) a 21-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, which was more than enough for the win.

Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points, and James Harden added 22 more with 10 assists, but the x-factor for Cleveland was Max Strus, who provided a big spark towards the end of the second quarter and throughout the third. Strus made 8 of 10 shots, four of six from three, scoring 24 points and also provided tough defense on Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram.

In the first half, the Cavs had no answer for Ingram who hurt them in the mid-range game, particularly when Jaylon Tyson guarded him. Tyson is just too small and got in foul trouble immediately, picking up three very quickly.

If we were Raptors’ coach Darko Rajakovic, we’d be wondering how to get the ball to Ingram more often. For the game, the former second overall pick took just nine shots, less than Barnes, R.J. Barrett, and Jamal Shead, who started in place of the injured Immanuel Quickley.

The Raptors couldn’t get their running game going, mostly due to Quickley, who averaged 16.4 points and 5.9 assists per game, shooting 37.4% from three, being out. His availability for Game 2 is still up in the air.

On the other hand, Toronto shot 35.4% from three as a team during the regular season, but knocked down 13 of 27 yesterday. If they return to form Monday night, that is definitely advantage Cleveland.

The home team had a huge advantage inside as Jarrett Allen (5 of 7) and Evan Mobley (6 of 9) had several dunks against the foes from The Great White North. With Harden continuously looking the duo rolling to the basket, that is something Toronto needs to find an answer.

Atkinson went with ten players until garbage time, and many referred to the cliche about team’s rotation shrinking in the playoffs. In reality, the number of players getting time lessens because of usually one or two aren’t playing well. Until that happens for Cleveland, we would continue to look for Atkinson to play ten. The Cavaliers have a deep roster.

The thing that is different about the playoffs is you play the same team over and over, and adjustments are made on a game-by-game basis. My guess is Toronto will want Harden to shoot more, stopping the rim runs by Allen and Mobley. Make Harden a high-volume shooter.

We also think they will make Sam Merrill and Tyson have to make shots. They combined for 1 for 8 yesterday.

And they will take to get Ingram going and keep him going, especially if Atkinson put Tyson and/or/ Strus on him. The latter did a solid job, but Ingram still has a height advantage.

This game figures to be a tougher challenge for the Cavs, but if they win, they have a huge leg up in the series. So again, it’s a big game.

If Quickley’s hamstring allows him to play, expect the Cavs to go at him defensively.

This is a #4 vs. #5 matchup. It’s not supposed to be a sweep. That doesn’t mean it can’t be though.