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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

Last year, the Cavaliers and the Raptors stood at 13th and 12th position respectively in the EC. And this year, they’re #7 and #8 in the rankings after 10 games apiece. So there’s definitely a rivalry that is building between the two NBA teams. 

Terrell Owens holding Dude Wipes XL

And well, that tension around these squads reached its pinnacle in the Raptors’ recent loss to the Cavs. The livewire game swung in Cleveland’s way in the final quarter as they won 102-101. However, it was the crazy scene that broke out in the closing minutes that became the ultimate highlight.

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Scottie Barnes vs Jarrett Allen

With under 150 seconds remaining in the game at Scotiabank Arena, the Raptors were leading 98-94. That’s when Scottie Barnes attempted a jump shot to stretch Toronto’s lead and found the rim. Looking at the rebound opportunity, Cavs’ Jarrett Allen jumped and grabbed the deflection only to find Scottie fighting for the ball.

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In a blink of an eye, the 6’9” Raptor spinned the 6’11” center and literally dumped him on the floor. This gave a feeling of two light heavyweights fighting inside an Octagon. Take a look as Barnes lost the ball to a turnover.

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Thanks to Jenna Schroeder, the experienced NBA official on the floor, the stunt did not escalate into a fight. 

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Read more: ‘SMOKING THAT CAVS PACK’: Twitter Reacts to LeBron James & Lakers’ Win Over Cavaliers

What happened in those last few minutes of this NBA thriller?

The Cavaliers were fortunate in their game against the Blazers where Damian Lillard lost a game-tying attempt. Well, that luck continued as they reduced a 5-point deficit against the Raptors with under 90 seconds remaining.

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After OG Anunoby’s three-pointer, the score was 101-96 in Raptors’ favour. However, those were their last points as a team. Suddenly, Jarrett Allen’s cutting dunk and finger roll layup cut the difference to just one. Then, two successful clutch FTs from Darius Garland led to the Cavs’ thrilling win.

If they can pull off one such performance without Lauri Markkanen, Isaac Okoro, and Kevin Love, this Cavs team  can prove lethal. 

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Do you see this Cavaliers unit qualifying for the postseason this year? Help us know in the comments below.

Watch this story: LeBron James vs Kevin Durant Duel From Cavaliers vs Warriors in 2017 NBA Finals

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Sourabh Singh

1,743 Articles

Sourabh Singh is the Editor-in-Chief at EssentiallySports. A Sports Management diploma holder, Sourabh began his media career in 2015 at a fast-growing startup. He started out as a sports writer covering the NBA, UFC, Tennis, and the off-field lives of American athletes, before transitioning into a Managing Editor role. Thereafter, Sourabh joined ES in 2020, marking an end to a brief stint at Decathlon. Since then, he has led the editorial team with a sharp focus on journalistic integrity, accuracy, and mentorship. Under his leadership, the team has grown into a dynamic newsroom that consistently delivers trusted sports coverage to millions of satisfied readers.

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