Cleveland, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Louis Williams turned back the clock on Saturday, scoring a career-high 36 points off the bench to lead the Toronto Raptors to a convincing 110-93 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Williams shot 9-for-19 and made all 15 of his free throws to help the Raptors dig themselves out of an early 18-point hole and run away from the struggling Cavaliers. He has been a key part of Toronto's 11-2 start, reaching double digits in scoring in nine of the last 10 games.
"I just wanted to come in and play my style of basketball," said Williams. "Play with a lot of energy, create a spark. I think Cleveland did a great job of getting off to a good start. We needed a little spark and I think I was able to create that."
Kyle Lowry added 23 points and eight assists for the Raptors, who were coming off a 6-1 homestand.
Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving netted 23 and 21, respectively, as the Cavaliers lost their fourth straight game. LeBron James had 15 points and 10 assists but sat the majority of the fourth with the game just about out of reach.
"Far too many unnecessary turnovers," said Cavs head coach David Blatt. "Ball- handling, turnovers. Mistakes that, a good half of them are avoidable."
Anderson Varejao scored on three straight possessions early on and Love made two free throws, as Toronto was forced to take an early timeout. Out of the huddle, James' steal led to an Irving transition layup and James beat Terrence Ross to the basket and drew a goaltend. The Cavs led 12-0 4 1/2 minutes in when Lowry finally broke the seal for Toronto with a corner 3.
James went behind the back to a cutting Varejao for another layup midway through the first, leading to another Raptors timeout. Love made a hook shot with 4 1/2 minutes to play to extend the lead to 24-6.
But Williams, as he has so often this season, came off Toronto's bench and injected life into the offense. Williams scored 12 points in the final 4:19 of the first to help pull the Raptors to within 34-21.
Williams drew a foul shooting a 3 early in the second and potted all three free throws, sparking a 9-0 run. Irving split a pair at the line and Williams made another 3-ball and just like that, Cleveland's lead was down to one.
Naturally, it was Williams that gave Toronto its first lead of the game with another 3-pointer as time expired in the half. The Raptors led 56-54 at halftime.
DeMar DeRozan's three-point play at 6:43 of the third kicked off another Toronto flurry. Lowry's layup at the end of the 15-0 surge put the Raptors up by 11. Williams hit two more jumpers late in the stanza, and the Raptors led 85-71 through three.
The margin never dipped back into single digits.
Game Notes
Williams' previous career-high was 31 points, set on Nov. 20, 2009 as a member of the Sixers ... Toronto has won four straight ... Raptors forwards James Johnson (ankle) and Tyler Hansbrough (shoulder) were inactive ... Toronto matched idle Memphis for the best record in the NBA ... The Raptors shot 38- of-42 from the foul line as a team ... Cleveland hit just 3-of-16 from behind the arc.
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