Siakam pours in 35 points in Raptors' win over Cavaliers

TORONTO — Pascal Siakam had a career-high six three-pointers and 35 points to lead the Toronto Raptors to a 117-104 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in a key Eastern Conference game on Thursday.

Chris Boucher had 17 points and eight rebounds, while OG Anunoby, who returned after missing 15 games with a fractured right ring finger, had 14 points for Toronto (41-32). Scottie Barnes had 11 points, while Fred VanVleet and Precious Achiuwa chipped in with 10 apiece.

Lauri Markkanen topped the Cavs (41-32) with 20 points.

The Raptors had a 14-point first-half lead against their conference rival, but the Cavs whittled it down to 83-75 by the start of the fourth quarter.

Lamar Stevens' three-pointer pulled Cleveland to within seven early in the fourth, but the Raptors bounced back, and when Armoni Brooks, who's on his second 10-day contract with Toronto, launched a three, the Scotiabank Arena crowd roared with anticipation. The basket was good, and Toronto was back up 94-81 with 7:39 to play.

Evan Mobley's basket with 4:21 to play made it an eight-point game, but the Raptors buckled down and Barnes muscled to the hoop with just under three minutes left to give Toronto a 14-point lead. Cleveland guard Caris LeVert hit a three with 2:09 left, but the Raptors already had the win well in hand. Coach Nick Nurse subbed off his starters a half a minute later, sending happy Raptors fans flocking to the exits.

With nine games left in the regular season, the Raptors are chasing a top-six spot in the Eastern Conference, thus avoiding the play-in route to the post-season. If the playoffs started Friday, Cleveland would have the tiebreaker over Toronto with their 3-1 season-series record.

The Chicago Bulls were two games ahead of