Cleveland's Kenny Atkinson praised Evan Mobley's work ethic and desire to improve during a radio interview on Friday.

Toronto was on the second leg of a back-to-back and came into the game hobbling without a full lineup. The All-Star break could not come at a better time for the Raptors who have Brandon Ingram out with an ankle injury and Jakob Poeltl out with a hip injury. There is no timetable for their return and their absence was felt Wednesday night.

Any team, whether at the top of the Eastern Conference or already out of the playoff race, always faces a mental challenge in its last game before the All-Star break. Wednesday could have been a game for the Cleveland Cavaliers to let slip as they had their eyes set on a week-long layoff.