Raptors adjust to early start time for Game 4 of playoffs against Cavaliers

Success in the NBA playoffs is all about adjustments. Who can make the necessary tweaks to adapt their game to what the series demands?

For renowned napper Brandon Ingram, that means moving up his bedtime on Saturday.

"Trying to get in the bed earlier today," said Ingram after practice at Toronto's OVO Athletic Centre Saturday. "My girl’s around so she'll get on my nerves enough where I just want to go to sleep."

Turning in early will be a necessity for Ingram — and anyone else on the Raptors who likes to nap — as Toronto hosts the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of their opening round series at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday. Cleveland leads the best-of-seven matchup 2-1.

Starting centre Jakob Poeltl isn't sure if the unusually early tipoff will help or hinder either team.

"It might, it might not, but it's the same for both teams," he said. "I don't think it really matters. We have early games throughout the season every now and then, so everybody should know what it feels like. I think we're fine.

"It kind of changes the routine, obviously, because all day just kind of changes, but you still try to do the same things before the game."

'We gotta take it one game at a time': Raptors Head Coach Darko Rajaković speaks ahead of Game 4

Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic said he scheduled Saturday's off-day practice to line up with Sunday's start time to helps his players create a rhythm for the weekend.

"We’re giving guys 24 hours to get ready until tomorrow," said Rajakovic. "We’ve got to focus on things that we're controlling.

"Those are our defensive, offensive fundamentals, our culture. That's the main focus of it. There is not much you can do regarding your body clock."

A.J. Lawson of Brampton, Ont., has been cleared to play for the