Raptors' Bismack Biyombo swats Cavs' Kyrie Irving, wags finger

After two consecutive blowouts, including one strange Kyle Lowry episode, there hadn’t been much to celebrate about the Toronto Raptors in the conference finals.

The Cleveland Cavs pummeled them by an average of 25 points per game and owned a 2-0 lead heading into Saturday night’s must-win.

But with their season essentially on the line, the Raptors played energized and inspired basketball in the first half of Game 3. Kyle Lowry, although he picked up three first half fouls, didn’t hesitate on his jumper, and DeMar DeRozan poured in 21 points in the first two quarters. On the defensive end, aside from hauling in 16 rebounds, Bismack Biyombo set the tone with this Mutombo-esque swat on Kyrie Irving.

Raptors guard Cory Joseph immediately came down on the other end and buried a triple, giving the Raptors a 49-37 lead, which was their biggest lead of the series to that point. The Raptors closed the half up 60-47 but not before a midcourt scuffle resulted in Cavs forward Tristan Thompson leveling LeBron James across the face.

Biyombo's block might not matter in the grand scheme of the series, but the Raptors and their fans have to take solace in the fact that they haven’t quit.