The rapper and Raptors ambassador, who was seated courtside on Monday night and seen dapping players following the Raptors' 105-99 win, took aim at Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving this time.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- After the Toronto Raptors topped the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Drake took a dig at LeBron James. 

SEE: Drake takes dig at LeBron

The rapper and Raptors ambassador, who was seated courtside on Monday night and seen dapping players following the Raptors' 105-99 win, took aim at Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving this time. 

In an Instagram post, sent out shortly after the game, Drake said that Irving "gave" the Raptors two games in Toronto with his poor play.

Of course, the post was capped with a laughing emoji. 

2 gave us 2...we'll take it [?]

A photo posted by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on May 23, 2016 at 8:20pm PDT

In the Game 4 loss, Irving scored 26 points on 11-of-21 from the field, and keyed a late third quarter rally, scoring 12 points to get the Cavs within single digits heading into the final period.

However, Irving averaged 19.5 points per game on 35 percent from the field, including 26.7 percent from 3-point range in the two games north of the border. 

Cody Anderson allowed one run in seven innings and the Indians hit three homers in a 5-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox in the second game of a doubleheader Monday night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Right-hander Cody Anderson allowed one run and struck nine in seven innings and Jose Ramirez, Rajai Davis and Juan Uribe homered as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Chicago White Sox, 5-1, in the second game of a doubleheader Monday night at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. The White Sox won the opener, 7-6.

Here is a capsule look at the key aspect(s) of the game, which was televised by Fox Sports Time Ohio:

Back on track: The Indians (23-20) snapped a three-game skid. They remain 2 1/2 games behind the first-place White Sox (27-19) in the AL Central.

All about C.A.: Anderson has made two good starts (out of seven) in the majors this season. Both have come against the White Sox in Chicago.

On April 9, he allowed two runs on six hits in six innings and was in line for the victory against Chris Sale. But Bryan Shaw gave up five runs in the seventh inning and the Tribe lost, 7-3.

Monday's performance was much better primarily because of quality and depth of repertoire.

Part of Anderson's struggles this season can be traced to pitch location, no doubt. He has missed over the plate too many times. But his most glaring problem has been lack of at least a third pitch. He didn't have, or trust, anything to get batters off the fastball and changeup.

On Monday, Anderson brought a curve to the proceedings, and it worked wonders. His legitimate three-pitch mix probably startled the White Sox.

Anderson (1-3, 6.81 ERA) gave up five hits and walked none. Three of the hits came against well-executed pitches.

In the fourth inning, Avisail Garcia fouled a 1-1 curve.

Fox Sports Time Ohio analyst Rick Manning said: "He's using all of his pitches. That's what I like. He's not stuck in a two-pitch -- fastball, changeup -- situation.''

Fox Sports Time Ohio play-by-play voice Matt Underwood said: "I'm sure he's had a start where we've seen him throw this many breaking balls. I just can't remember it.''

Manning said: "I don't remember seeing it this year. I'll tell you what: He's keeping the hitters honest. He hadn't been keeping hitters honest this year.''

Garcia grounded a 1-2 curve to third. Anderson had shaken off catcher Chris Gimenez, who wanted a fastball.

Oh, by the way: Anderson's fastball featured serious tilt and late life, especially to the inner half against righties. He mixed in cut-fastballs.

Air conditioning: Here are Anderson's strikeouts (pitch type):

• Tyler Saladino swinging (curve).
• (L) Adam Eaton, swinging (fastball)
• Tyler Saladino swinging (curve)
• Jose Abreu, swinging (curve)
• Brett Lawrie, called (curve).
• (L) Alex Avila, swinging (changeup)
• Austin Jackson, swinging (changeup)
• Jose Abreu, swinging (curve)
• (L) Alex Avila, swinging (changeup)

Dialing long distance: All of the Tribe's homers came against righty Erik Johnson.

With one out in the second, Ramirez attacked a first-pitch fastball (89 mph) and zipped it over the right-field wall to give the Tribe a 1-0 lead. He also homered in the first game.

With two outs in the top of the fifth, Johnson fell behind Davis, 3-0.

Underwood said: "Rajai sitting there with a 3-0 count. Jason Kipnis would be next. Does Rajai turn it loose 3-0 here?''

Manning said:  "No.''

Davis blasted a 90-mph fastball to left.

Underwood said: "Yes, he does. Rajai loves a 3-0 fastball down the middle. He clobbered it.''

Uribe smoked a 1-1 fastball (90) to make it 4-1 in the seventh. Later in the half, Kipnis had an RBI single.

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue spoke about setting the physical tone early, being the team to hit first.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue spoke about setting the physical tone early, being the team to hit first.

It didn't happen. Out-hustled and out-muscled by the Toronto Raptors for the second straight game, the Cavaliers lost again north of the border, 105-99. They now head home hoping the change of scenery provides the answers they couldn't come up with in the last two games against the Raptors.

Here are five observations:

Defense optional - In the first two games of the series, the Cavs stifled the Raptors, holding them to 86.5 points on 65-of-158 (41.1 percent) from the field.

But the Raptors didn't seem discouraged, lamenting missed shots in Cleveland, and vowing to make those same looks inside Air Canada Centre.

They have, especially Kyle Lowry, who scored a game-high 35 points. DeMar DeRozan added 32. 

It was a tremendous offensive display by the All-Star duo, but the Cavs' defense deserves plenty of blame, letting Toronto get comfortable in the first half again.

The Raptors scored 57 points, gained confidence and the Cavs were forced to play catch-up for the second consecutive game, a tough task in a hostile environment in the playoffs.

Cleveland turned things around defensively in the second half -- holding Toronto to 48 points -- but it was too late by then.

The Raptors scored 105 points, their second highest total during an inconsistent postseason, on 42-of-78 (53.8 percent) from the field.

That's not nearly good enough -- not against a team with two offensive options. Then again, this probably should've been expected.

Remember that white board hanging in the Cavs' locker room, the one that shows opponents field goal percentage and the same one I've written about plenty? Well, the Cavs aren't going to like what the see when they return to Cleveland.

Through 12 games, teams are shooting 45.8 percent from the field, which is the worst mark remaining and 11th of the 16 teams that made the playoff field.

The Cavs' defensive lapses were hidden by the perfect 10-0 record early. However, they're starting to become more apparent, especially in the last two losses.

The Raptors have shot at least 45 percent from the field in both games while Lowry and DeRozan have grown more comfortable. That's the one thing the Cavs couldn't let happen. Suddenly, those struggles from Lowry, which caused him to "decompress" in the locker room during one blowout, seem to be an afterthought.

Irving played a role in Lowry's poor Game 1, hounding him on the perimeter and making the point guard take tough 2s.

Lately, Irving has reverted back to his regular season defense.

With Irving on the court this postseason, opponents have an offensive rating of 110.3. With him off the floor, the rating is 94.2.

The Cavs can't afford to bench him, of course, as Irving is the team's leading scorer in the playoffs. But the future matchup against either Stephen Curry or Russell Westbrook won't get any easier.

Irving had enough trouble with Lowry when the series shifted to Toronto.

Championship response - Down by nine points to begin the fourth quarter, the Cavaliers, using their LeBron-led lineup, came out swinging with both fists.

Going to the same play repeatedly, with James running offense from the post, the Cavs threw massive haymakers, hitting their first 11 shots to begin the quarter. They scored inside, hitting floaters, using back cuts to get layups and connecting on alley-oops. They also buried perimeter jumpers, with Channing Frye as the primary sniper.

The Pistons and Hawks would've been wobbling. The Raptors were standing tall.

While they were helpless on the defensive end, the Raptors showed the fight of a 56-win club that has earned plenty of respect.

After that unstoppable offense, the Cavs were only staring at a two-point lead. That's when DeRozan answered Richard Jefferson's dunk with one of his patented midrange jumpers to tie the game at 96.

Earlier in this postseason, the Raptors earned a reputation. Their late-game collapses became a conversation piece, with many wondering if the pressure was too much. Hardened by those seven-game battles against Indiana and Miami, Toronto delivered in the clutch while the Cavs wilted.

After scoring on 11 straight, the Cavs made one of their final 10 shots including 1-of-9 from 3-point range.

Where's Love? - The answer to this question is the same place he was during the fourth quarter of Game 3: The bench.

But even before that, Love never appeared to make it through customs.

Lue promised to get his power forward involved early. He did, as Love took eight shots in the first quarter. He didn't, however, take advantage of those looks, scoring five points on 2-of-8 from the field, including 1-of-6 from beyond the arc.

Things didn't get much better after that, finishing with 10 points on 4-of-14 from the field, including 2-of-7 from 3-point range. 

And again, he was on the bench for the entire fourth quarter. 

"To try to put Kevin back in with four minutes to go in the fourth quarter in a hostile game, hostile environment, it's not fair to him," Lue told reporters. "Channing gave us a great lift off the bench, and we just rolled with it."

That's an odd explanation.

Love was dealing with shooting struggles, a gimpy knee after tripping on the foot of the referee and was struggling on defense again. But this is why the Cavs made the blockbuster deal in the summer of 2014, targeting him specifically to be the final member of the Big Three.

He was supposed to help win pressure-packed games in the postseason, not watch them from the bench. He was supposed to be the difference in this series, giving the Cavs the third scoring option the Raptors lack. But in back-to-back games, Lue decided, for one reason or another, that the team was better without Love.

Of everything that happened during the two games in Toronto, this could be the most concerning.

Love's shooting struggles have been masked by the early-postseason wins. But it's getting tougher to ignore the numbers.

He's averaging 16.4 points, and was integral in the first two rounds, but in 12 games, Love is shooting just 36.3 percent from the field.

The Cavaliers need more. 

Following the scouting report - With less than a minute remaining and the Raptors clinging to a four-point lead, the Cavs forced Lowry into a tough shot.

He missed, but Bismack Biyombo grabbed the offensive rebound, the second time in as many possessions the Raptors got a second-chance opportunity.

Following Dwane Casey's timeout, the Raptors got the matchup they wanted. Lowry went around a few screens and got a switch, with J.R. Smith defending instead of Iman Shumpert.

The message has been reiterated throughout the series. It's the focal point on the video cutups that play in the locker room before the game: Lowry wants to go left.

On the game-winning jumper he made against the Cavs in the regular season, he dribbled to his left, stepped back and buried the dagger. He went left repeatedly in his Game 3 duel against Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat in the conference semifinals.

So when Smith switched onto Lowry at the right wing, he overplayed Lowry's left hand, forcing him the other way. Lowry calmly drove past Smith -- and with a little help from Biyombo who made a savvy (and illegal) move to keep Tristan Thompson from helping at the rim -- to make the uncontested layup to solidify the win.

Smith should've provided more resistance, but it's tough to fault him too much, as he followed the scouting report. He kept Lowry from going left.

But Lowry did what he has done all year. He made a great play with the game on the line. That's why he's an All-Star.

Changing identity - The first two games were played at the Cavs' pace, getting out in transition, making sure they didn't have to execute against Toronto's stingy defense. Irving attacked the basket repeatedly, putting pressure on the Raptors, as the Cavs averaged 12 fast-break points. 

When they were forced to make plays in the half court, the Cavs pounded the ball inside. So worried about Cleveland's lethal outside shooting that buried the Hawks in the conference semifinals, the Raptors gave up dunks and layups. 

The Cavs scored 106 points in the paint during the first two games, with 109 of their 150 shots coming inside the arc.

It seemed like a change in identity, the perfect shift into a power team, looking to send a message and show they were still the East's bully.

But that changed in Toronto.

The Raptors tweaked their defensive strategy. They went back to what worked in the regular season, shrinking the floor and protecting the rim with Biyombo, the breakout postseason star.

"We overemphasized the three-point shot," Casey told reporters recently. "Our whole thing the whole year has been protect the paint. We've always done that. Against this team, you have to do multiple things. You have to take away the three and defend the paint."

It's no surprise that the defensive architect Andy Greer, who worked under Tom Thibodeau, has found a formula to frustrate the Cavs. After all, the Bulls, albeit with different personnel, were the team that had the Cavs on the ropes before Lue and James saved the season last year.

The Raptors certainly deserve credit for increasing the pressure and the Cavs have spoken about taking what the defense gives them. But at some point, the more talented team has to impose its will, dictate the terms.

James is the league's most unstoppable force, capable of getting wherever he wants. He had Lowry in the post on switches late in Game 4 and kicked it out for 3s.

That wouldn't have happened in the first two games when it appeared James had a personal score to settle with DeMarre Carroll.

Irving is one of the best one-on-one players in the NBA, blessed with a slick handle that leaves defenders dizzy. Yet has settled for tough shots the last two games, instead of driving inside like he did the first two games.

Love, one of the league's best back-to-the-basket players, should be able to make his mark against Luis Scola and Patrick Patterson.

But for those things to happen, the Cavs have to change the thinking and not look for the 3-pointer as much, even if that's what the Raptors are allowing. After all, the Cavs aren't a 3-point shooting team -- according to James.

In games three and four, the Cavs scored 56 points in the paint. Total. That's the same amount they had in Game 1 alone. 

Of their 162 shots in Toronto, 82 of them came from downtown. Nine of their final 10 shots in the fourth quarter Monday came from beyond the arc. The Cavs are capable of making those looks. They showed that throughout the regular season and in the first two series, but better balance is needed.

The Cavs are shooting 33 percent and averaging 10.3 triples in this series.

According to Elias, the Cavs are the first team in postseason history to attempt at least 40 triples in consecutive games.

That seems excessive given the way they dominated inside early in the series.

Monday's telecast of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals featured a discussion about Draymond Green's controversial play against Oklahoma City in Game 3.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- During Monday's telecast of Toronto's 105-99 win vs. the Cavaliers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, both Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy of ESPN shared their reaction to Golden State's Draymond Green's kick of Oklahoma City center Steven Adams in the Western Conference Finals.

"I thought it was a dirty play," Jackson said.

"That play was not a basketball play," Van Gundy added.

Jeff Van Gundy & Mark Jackson don't always agree. They both think Draymond Green should've been suspended without a shadow of a doubt.

-- Shahan Ahmed (@shahanLA) May 24, 2016

The NBA announced before Game 4 that Green will not be suspended for Tuesday's Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals.

Later in the game, Van Gundy jokingly referenced the play when Matthew Dellavedova fouled Bismack Biyombo and the Toronto center reacted as he was hit.

"You can flail. You can now flail," Van Gundy said.

Check out some other highlights from ESPN's broadcast on Monday.

Jalen Rose and Toronto's public transportation

At halftime, analyst Jalen Rose made a confusing system about Toronto's subway system, referencing the numerous stops the rail system takes to how the Raptors attacked the basket at will.

"Free lines to the basket," he said.

It is worth noting that Rose played for parts of three seasons with the Raptors.

"Nobody beats the Biz"

Biyombo has been the rising star of the last two games for Toronto with his impressive hustle and blocks.

Biyombo powerfully rejected Kevin Love on a dunk attempt in the third quarter, prompting Jackson to shout the above phrase.

Not in @bismackbiyombo0's house! #CAVSvRAPTORShttps://t.co/Jq5U25BWFS

-- NBA (@NBA) May 24, 2016

What you said

Here's some of the social media reaction to Monday's telecast.

Mark Jackson call his Shannon Frye? I'm seriously hard of hearing

-- Ken Carman (@KenCarman) May 24, 2016

Twitter had mixed reaction to Van Gundy's comments about Green's play.

Jeff Van Gundy is making a lot of sense now.

-- HoopsHype (@hoopshype) May 24, 2016

 

First thing I always think of when Jeff Van Gundy tries to lecture us on the ethics of basketball pic.twitter.com/mHX0r0dXkj

-- Rob Perez (@World_Wide_Wob) May 24, 2016

On the upcoming Indianapolis 500.

Jeff Van Gundy just recalled a memory, said he rode around @IMS with AJ Foyt. Only to have @MarkJackson13 correct him. It was Mario Andretti

-- Jacob (@dwn_goesfrazier) May 24, 2016

The Toronto Raptors now have a 'snowball's chance' to beat LeBron James and the Cavaliers.

TORONTO - Since the Raptors earned the right to play the Cavaliers in the Eastern finals, LeBron James has given them their due.

Even after the Raptors evened this series at two games apiece with a 105-99 win Monday night, Kyle Lowry said he didn't think the Cavs "ever looked at us like inferior opponents."

And yet, who, perhaps the truest of believers inside the Raptors' locker room, saw this coming? The series shifting back to Cleveland for Game 5 even, with Toronto possessing a puncher's chance at heading to the Finals?

Put your hands down. Be serious.

Not when the Cavs won their first 10 playoff games, or beat the Raptors by 50 points in the first two games. And not with James having won at least one road game in his last 24 playoff series.

There wasn't supposed to be a Game 5, was there? Well, there's a Game 6 coming now, too. The Cavs are in a spot right now where they need to make sure they're not the ones facing elimination when the series comes back here to the Air Canada Centre for that sixth game.

"I think it's a sense of the outsiders, which I've never really got involved with, saying we may never lose another game," James said.

James piqued the basketball universe's collective interest before Monday's game when he declared "I have a game plan tonight personally that I believe will benefit our team tonight."

He was certainly the Cavs' best player in Game 4, registering 29 points, nine rebounds, and six assists on 11-of-16 shooting. But, outside of him playing a playoff-high 46 minutes, including the entire second half, it was difficult to determine how James was any different than he's been in these playoffs.

LeBron's secret plan not enough

His 29 points were a 2016 postseason high. But Kyrie Irving (26 points) took 21 shots; Kevin Love (10 points) hoisted 14.

James took on the assignment of guarding DeMar DeRozan for large stretches, but the Cavs switched on a number of picks and DeRozan was often picked up by a different Cav. He finished with 32 points.

"I think I played the game plan that I wanted to play, both offensively and defensively," James said, not divulging the secret plan. "For me, I gave everything that I had in the 46 minutes that I played, both offensively and defensively. I felt great. Tried to get my guys involved, get myself involved. My individual game plan was pretty good."

Either the Cavs' collective plan for Monday was no good, or the execution was terrible. They were 3-of-22 from 3-point range in the first half, trailed by 16 and allowed the Raptors to shoot 56 percent. Love was 2-of-8 for the half, but didn't shoot at all in the second quarter.

The Cavs made things very interesting late in the third and deep into the fourth with their second unit of James, Matthew Dellavedova, Richard Jefferson, Iman Shumpert, and Channing Frye - scoring on 14 consecutive possessions, largely by running one play the Raptors couldn't stop.

With James in the high post, the Cavs ran a handoff-and-roll with Frye open on the perimeter and either James or Jefferson slicing back door for layups and dunks. That play and the six 3s they bombed in the third quarter erased an 18-point deficit.

"When you've got LeBron James as your point guard at the elbow, they executed pretty well," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. " They just started running the options off of it. It's something we will figure out."

More could be said here about the Cavs' breakdowns late in the fourth quarter, the turnovers and defensive miscues and single field goal in the final 4:52 that led to the loss.

But let's take a step back and consider again where this series stands today: somewhere almost no one thought possible. They're trying to avoid following in the footsteps of the 2012 San Antonio Spurs, who won their first 10 playoff games but then dropped four straight to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western finals.

"Someone mentioned that we were in it just to win one game, and I disagreed with them. We're in it to compete for a championship," Casey said. "Nobody thought we were going to be here. Nobody gives us a snowball's chance in you know where to beat Cleveland."

James has played in these situations - Game 5 of a playoff series tied at two - 12 times. The results are mixed.

His teams won six and lost six. He's averaging 32 points, 8.6 rebounds and 6.8 assists in those games, shooting about 48 percent. One of James' very best games as a pro was in a Game 5 - that magical, 48-pointer to beat the Pistons in the 2007 conference finals.

One of his worst - that 15-point, 3-of-14-shooting dud in the conference semis against Boston in 2010, was also in a Game 5.

Counting the regular season, neither the Cavs nor Raptors has beaten the other on the road. James still has that ace in his pocket of winning at least one road playoff game in every series dating back to the 2010 postseason.

But he and his current team is in the once unfathomable position of sort of needing a win in Game 5 against the Raptors.

"I am a confident guy," James said. "I'm always confident in my ability and what I can bring to my team, whatever the case may be, whatever the circumstances are. Going back home, we have to play a lot better, and I think we will."

Can you spell the last name of Matthew Dellavedova? Watch fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers try the quiz. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland Cavaliers look to retake the lead in the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday in their return home for Game 5 against the Toronto Raptors.

In the meantime, check out the how several Cavs fans fared in spelling the last name Cavs guard Matthew Dellavedova.

Watch the video above to Gladiators defensive back Jamie Bender and other contestants take the quiz on East 4^th Street in downtown Cleveland.

The Cavaliers are tied (2-2) with the Raptors in the seven-game series after falling to the Raptors, 105-99, in Game 4 on Monday. Tipoff for Game 5 is at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.

Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan and the Toronto Raptors won Games 3-4 in Toronto to even the Eastern Conference final against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kyle Lowry scored 35 and DeMar DeRozan 32 as the Toronto Raptors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 105-99, Monday night at Air Canada Centre in Toronto. LeBron James had 29 points, nine rebounds and six assists in 46 hard minutes for the Cavs.

The Eastern Conference final is tied, 2-2. Game 5 is Wednesday night at The Q.

Here is a capsule look at the key aspect(s) of the game, which was televised by ESPN:

Yikes: The Cavs hold homecourt advantage in what is now a best-of-three, so they need not panic. But there is plenty of cause for concern in Cavs Nation -- or at least there should be.

Among the reasons:

* The aura of invincibility is gone.

The Cavs, No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, opened the postseason 10-0. Now they are in a two-game skid. They can't win simply by walking into an arena.

Their confidence, no matter what they say publicly, undoubtedly is shaken. Losing two straight after a 10-0 start cannot be dismissed as a fluke.

* Kevin Love suddenly is a mess.

Love is a max player whom the Cavs need to be part of a "Big 3'' with LeBron and Kyrie Irving. Love was good enough, on balance, through the first 10 playoff games. Then he dropped his compass at Customs.

In Game 3 on Saturday, Love shot 1-of-9 and scored three in 29 minutes. He contributed minimally elsewhere. The Cavs lost, 99-84.

On Monday, Love shot 4-of-14 and scored 10 in 31 minutes. He contributed minimally elsewhere. He was a DNP-CD in the fourth quarter.

Love, a magnet for injuries, accidentally stepped on referee David Guthrie late in the third quarter and rolled his left ankle. If you want to believe the ankle was the reason Love remained on the bench in the fourth, be my guest.

* Tristan Thompson suddenly is a liability.

Starting center Thompson earns an eight-digit salary despite not having any semblance of an offensive game. He rebounds, hustles, rebounds, hustles and defends as best he can. He makes winning plays that don't show up in the box score.

As long as others are shooting reasonably well, the Cavs can live with Thompson not even being a threat to score. The 4-on-5 doesn't look so bad.

In Game 3, Irving, Love and J.R. Smith were a combined 11-of-44 from the field. Thompson needed to be all-world at what he does, but he managed just eight rebounds, two assists and zero points (on 0-of-1 shooting) in 25 minutes. Toronto center Bismack Biyombo had 26 rebounds, seven points, four blocks and multiple finger-wags in 39 minutes.

Biyombo altered what the Cavs tried to do in the paint. Thompson was invisible to the Raptors.

It happened again Monday, when Irving shot 11-of-21 but Smith and Love were a combined 7-of-26. Thompson had nine rebounds, two points (on 1-of-3 shooting) and one steal and posted a -14 in 29 minutes. Biyombo went for 14 rebounds, five points, three blocks, one assist and posted a +9 in 42 minutes.

* LeBron might have overheated.

The existential assumption in these parts is that LeBron will be running and dunking and dominating for as long as he plays, preferably into his 40s or 50s. The reality is, LeBron is human. Somewhat, but human.

Cavs coach Tyronn Lue rode LeBron long enough in Game 4 that LeBron appeared to run out of gas late in the fourth. 

As great as LeBron is, it can't be taken for granted that he automatically cranks out a huge Game 5 just two days after logging 46 minutes. And he is in his 13th season, not his third, with so much demanded of him at both ends of the court.

* The Raptors are good.

The Raptors did not stumble into the No. 2 seed in the East, or the conference final. They have earned what they have gotten.

The Raptors shot poorly and suffered lopsided losses in the first two games of the series in Cleveland -- and, just like that, they were garbage. The Raptors were the Generals, the Cavs the Globetrotters, and brooms would be necessary at Air Canada Centre.

At least that was the narrative nationally and in Northeast Ohio, promulgated by many who should know better.

Those of us who actually paid attention to the Raptors during the regular season and first two rounds of the playoffs saw it differently. Canadian citizenship was not required to predict that the Raptors would not go quietly, primarily because they were going home for Games 3-4.

The Raptors, as is the case with most teams, play better at home than on the road. In the Raptors' case, it is considerably better. In the 2015-2016 regular season and postseason, they now are a combined 40-11 at home as opposed to 26-23 on the road.

The regular season is not supposed to mean anything, but the Raptors were well aware that they had won both meetings with the Cavs in 2015-2016.

Add victories in Games 3-4, and the Raptors probably don't think the Cavs can beat them in Air Canada Centre this season. Which means the Raptors already have won Game 6 mentally, regardless of what happens in Game 5.

* Point guard Lowry and shooting guard DeRozan are very good.

All-Star Lowry drastically underperformed in Games 1-2, and his brand took a hit, but he redeemed himself in Games 3-4 (combined 55 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists).

DeRozan has been a problem for the Cavs throughout the series (18, 22, 32, 32 points). He is getting what he wants, when he wants it, on the floor.

When Lowry, in particular, is on his game, the Cavs have basically no answer for him. Seemingly all that can stop Lowry is Lowry.

* The Raptors are physical and capable of being stingy defensively.

The Cavs won't admit it, but they have been bothered by Toronto's physicality. One example: The Raptors did an excellent job of taking away space in the final minutes of Game 4; it is part of the reason the Cavs could not buy a basket.

* Raptors coach Dwane Casey suddenly is on fire.

Casey told anyone willing to listen that the Raptors would not fold after losing the first two games. He was proven correct, largely because his players bought what he sold.

Casey has played the nobody-gives-us-a-chance and disrespect-us-at-your-own-risk cards as well as any coach in recent memory ... and why shouldn't he? Few outside of Toronto gave his team a chance to make this a series.

Casey boldly criticized the officiating after Game 3 -- a victory -- and the NBA fined him $25,000. Casey could not have cared less, especially because the criticism might have bought him some calls/no-calls in the fourth quarter of Game 4.

Casey was a move or two ahead of Lue at Air Canada Centre, especially in the respective first halves, which proved pivotal. The Cavs trailed, 60-47, in Game 3 and 57-41 in Game 4.

A look at seven key stats that helped explain Toronto's 105-99 win in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Kyle Lowry scored a game-high 35 points Monday night to lead the Toronto Raptors' 105-99 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals.

Kent State is the top seed for the Mid-American Conference baseball tournament that starts on Wednesday at All Pro Freight Stadium in Avon, Ohio.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Mid-American Conference baseball tournament begins Wednesday at All Pro Freight Stadium in Avon, Ohio. The eight-team field is led by No. 1 seed Kent State (41-12) which has had one of the better regular seasons in school history.

Ball State (32-24) is the only other MAC team with a record above .500 as this was clearly a down season for what is traditionally a solid overall sport for the conference.

Kent State's last loss to a MAC team was April 30th against Miami, 5-2. Kent has not lost two straight games since March 30-April 1 against Pitt and Western Michigan. Kent has not lost three straight since they opened the season with road losses to Virginia, Old Dominion University and North Carolina State.

How dominant was Kent (20-4) during the regular season in the MAC? Consider every other team in the league had more than twice as many conference losses as the Golden Flashes. And half the teams in the league had three times as many.

KSU will begin tournament play against Eastern Michigan on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.

Here is the entire tournament bracket, with the schedule through Sunday's noon championship game, with a 3 p.m. game to follow for the MAC's NCAA Tournament bid, if needed.

Several teams will be practicing at All-Pro Stadium on Tuesday and these sessions will be open to the public.

Tuesday

• 9:30-10:30 a.m. - Western Michigan
• 10:30-11:30 a.m. - Ball State
• 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Central Michigan
• 12:30-1:30 p.m. - Northern Illinois
• 1:30-2:30 p.m. - Kent State

Here is the opening day schedule. All games in the tournament are available on ESPN3.

Wednesday

• 9:30 a.m. No. 3 Miami vs. No. 6 Central Michigan
• 1 p.m. No. 2 Ball State vs. No. 7 Western Michigan
• 4:30 p.m. - No. 1 Kent State vs. No. 8 Eastern Michigan
• 8 p.m. - No. 4 Northern Illinois vs. No. 5 Toledo

See how states ranked when counting the number of FBS recruits each produced in the Class of 2016.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - States like Florida, Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania are often considered hotbeds of high school football talent. But which ones produce the most Division I college football players?

High School Football America decided to find out. The website took note of where each scholarship player on Football Bowl Subdivision teams came from in the Class of 2016.

According to the research, 2,371 players were awarded FBS scholarships. Florida schools IMG Academy in Florida (15) and St. Thomas Aquinas (13) produced the most FBS scholarship players, according to the website.

Here's how they ranked:

Florida - 336

Texas - 330

California - 224

Georgia - 210

Ohio - 121

Louisiana - 95

Alabama - 91

North Carolina - 83

Michigan - 72

Illinois - 66

Virginia - 58

Pennsylvania - 56

Maryland - 50

New Jersey - 48

Mississippi - 44

Indiana - 38

South Carolina, Tennessee - 36

Washington - 35

Oklahoma, Utah - 33

Missouri - 27

Arizona - 22

Kentucky - 20

New York - 19

Hawaii, Minnesota - 18

Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Wisconsin - 15

Oregon - 14

Nevada - 13

Iowa - 12

Massachusetts - 11

Connecticut - 9

Nebraska, New Mexico, Washington DC - 6

West Virginia - 5

Idaho - 3

Delaware, Wyoming - 2

North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota - 1

Alaska, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, Vermont - 0

NOTE: High School Football America's scholarship count did not include players from Air Force, Army or Navy due to availability of their recruit lists.

The Cavaliers made it a point to try to get Kevin Love going early in Game 4 in Toronto. When that failed, he didn't get off the bench late in a series that has taken an ominous turn -- Bud Shaw's Sports Spin

CLEVELAND, Ohio - In two postseason fourth quarters in Toronto,  Kevin Love spent more quality time with Timofey Mozgov and Mo Williams than with Kyrie Irving and LeBron James.

You expect limited contributions from role players whose postseason production sometime sags away from the friendly confines of their home arena.

 Downgraded from Big Three component to accessory Monday, Love's most noticeable moment in Game 4 was stepping on a ref's foot and hobbling to the sideline.

Love's road game resume v. the Raptors: 13 points, 5-23 shooting, 11 rebounds.

Not that he's camped close to the basket as he was in his fillet mignon days in Minnesota, but even that doesn't quite account for Love pulling one offensive rebound in the series.

That's as many as Matthew Dellavedova, two fewer than Richard Jefferson.

It's also 14 fewer than Bismack Biyombo but that's a matchup comparison more fairly attached to Tristan Thompson than Love.

You get the sense that if LeBron James' social media blackout was lifted for a day, his first cryptic tweet would sail Love's way like a Raptors defender running him off his spot beyond the arc.

Game 4 gives Cavaliers fans a number of reasons to worry

Love strung eight double-doubles together in the sweeps of the Pistons and Hawks, so it's not as if he hasn't pulled some weight.

But in the category of ominious developments that could sabotage this franchise's chance to win a NBA championship and end the city's drought - you may have heard, it's been 52 years - Love's play in Toronto is prominent among them.

The Game 4 comeback that fell short was fueled by LeBron and The Replacements. It's the kind of lineup that conjures warm thoughts of the NBA Finals run last year but also offers a sobering concern: James played 46 minutes Monday. In a loss.

The Cavs need only protect home court against the Raptors to advance to the consecutive NBA Finals so there's some wiggle room. It's a best-of-three series with two of the three at home.

In the finals, Golden State would have the home court. Oklahoma City, which has already won at San Antonio  and Golden State in these playoffs, would be a bigger threat than the Raptors.

The next round, if the Cavs get there, won't get any easier defensively for Love, who was feeling so good about himself and the Cavs after Atlanta, he confidently said, "We still have another level we can get to and that's a good thing for us."

They got there in Game 1, reached it in parts of Game 2. But the glossed-over stat of the postseason, not just the Toronto series, has been Love's 36 percent field goal percentage.

Channing Frye mitigated Love's poor play Monday but that's hardly the point. The point is Love spent more crunch time on the bench.

"To try to put Kevin back in with four minutes to go in the fourth quarter in a hostile game, hostile environment, it's not fair to him," Lue told reporters.

Fair to him? Oh, boy.

Surely, Lue was just fumbling for something to say.

Because if it's really come to that, the Cavs could be in more trouble than we think.

While members of Cavaliers spent Sunday night watching Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals at Real Sports Bar and Grill, DeMar DeRozan spent his evening inside Air Canada Centre.

TORONTO - While members of the Cleveland Cavaliers spent Sunday night watching Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals at Real Sports Bar and Grill in downtown Toronto, DeMar DeRozan spent his evening inside Air Canada Centre.

DeRozan worked up a sweat, shooting close to a thousand shots for about two and a half hours and didn't exit the arena until 1 a.m., cleveland.com has learned. The session placed heavy emphasis on scoring assertively and promptly.

Although DeRozan won't admit it, sources with knowledge of the situation informed cleveland.com that this particular workout happened because he had a feeling LeBron James would be defending him in Monday's Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

When asked about his late-night shooting outing, the two-time All-Star attempted to downplay getting extra work in.

"It's nothing new for me. You can ask anybody in this organization," DeRozan told cleveland.com. "There's not a night that I don't come back in the gym and try to work on something and get better on something. It's nothing new."

Typically, players stay late in the gym to break out of shooting slumps.

"It was just a rhythm thing," he replied. "Listen, just because you know how to dance doesn't mean you can't learn a new move."

DeRozan entered Monday's affair averaging 24.0 points a game on 49 percent shooting from the field. The Cavs' J.R. Smith, who has been heralded as a defensive stopper during the playoffs, had been the primary DeRozan defender. Something had to change.

The Raptors guard was right. James matched up on him from the tip, but there were similar results. DeRozan torched the Cavaliers for his second straight 32-point contest to guide his team to a 105-99 victory, tying the series at two games apiece.

Those new dance moves he picked up on Sunday paid huge dividends.

"He and Kyle [Lowry] both really stepped up tonight," said Raptors head coach Dwane Casey.

DeRozan was aggressive and rarely second-guessed. He understood he wasn't going to overpower James to get to his midrange sweet spots. Instead, he had to use his deception and quickness. No over-dribbling, just attacking.

It also helped that the Cavaliers switched on picks the majority of the time. DeRozan was able to use picks to get more favorable matchups.

"With me on him, they feel like trying to get me up off of him with a screen, with a guard so they can force a switch - that's part of our defense," James said. ". . . We've got to be much better in our schemes and doing it a little bit harder as well."

DeRozan's preparation was key. Clocking in during off hours in the midst of an intense series is admirable, but getting inside the arena without hassle was an accomplishment in itself.

About seven hours before his evening workout, DeRozan had a hard time entering the court. He had arrived to do a television interview with ESPN. Upon entry into the bowl area, a female security guard spotted him and stopped him. She asked what he was doing there and even went as far to ask if he worked at the arena.

DeRozan just chuckled and kept walking down the 100-level steps and onto the court where his backcourt teammate Kyle Lowry was waiting. The security guard called for backup, assuming a possible trespasser was on the scene.

Once help arrived and saw who was on the court, he said to his colleague, "That's our two best players." He was not quite accurate. On Monday night, those two were the two best players on the court.

"That was the first time that ever happened," DeRozan said of the incident. "I just laughed about it. You know me. I wasn't tripping. You can call the whole security team in here and obviously somebody is going to know, but she was just doing her job."

DeRozan surely did his job. And now in going back to Cleveland for Game 5 on Wednesday night, it's time for the Cavaliers to do their job. This series is surprisingly wide open for the taking.

Anderson served up 10 home runs over 32 2/3 innings in his first seven outings. He did not surrender a long ball on Monday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Juan Uribe is the fun uncle of the Indians' clubhouse.

Jose Ramirez seems to follow Uribe everywhere he goes. Occasionally, a handful of players will pull up chairs near Uribe's locker and engage in some afternoon chatting.

Uribe is 37, the second-oldest member of the Indians' big-league roster. His bat has provided reminders of his age, as Uribe owns a .234/.308/.346 slash line this season.

So, when Francisco Lindor patted Uribe on the top of the head, screamed "wow" and poured a bucket of bubble gum on the third baseman after Uribe slugged a solo home run in Monday night's affair, it made some sense.

When Uribe made his major-league debut on April 8, 2001, Lindor was 7.

Here are a handful of thoughts following the double-header split between the Indians and White Sox.

1. On the money: Michael Martinez made one of the better throws you'll see from right field to nail Melky Cabrera at the plate with the bases loaded in Monday's opening tilt. With no outs, Carlos Sanchez lined out to right, where Martinez had made eight career appearances. His throw was so accurate and early that Yan Gomes had plenty of time to position his glove in front of the plate.

2. At the dish: Martinez entered the season with a career .187/.235/.256 slash line in 204 games with the Phillies, Pirates and Indians. Five hits in 16 at-bats this year is far too small a sample size to anoint him a hitting savant, but the Indians will take it. Martinez doubled in each of his first two trips to the plate on Monday.

With Ramirez playing nearly every day in Michael Brantley's absence, the club selected Martinez to fill the utility role. He appeared at second base, center field and right field in Monday's twin bill.

3. Southpaw for hire: Ryan Merritt, who has never pitched in a major-league game, is the only left-hander on the Indians' pitching staff. Had Joba Chamberlain not landed on the disabled list on Monday, the team would have fielded a staff of 13 righties.

Chamberlain to the DL; Merritt promoted

The Orioles dealt scuffling southpaw Brian Matusz to the Braves on Monday. Atlanta also received a draft pick. The Braves are expected to designate Matusz for assignment. Could the Indians make a play for the 29-year-old, who was the fourth overall selection in the 2008 amateur draft?

In his career, Matusz has limited left-handed hitters to a .211/.269/.358 clip. Righties have torched him to the tune of a .300/.370/.487 slash line.

Matusz posted a 3.32 ERA with 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings in the Baltimore bullpen from 2013-15.

4. Opposite Day: Marlon Byrd has flashed some opposite-field power this season, which shouldn't come as a surprise. Last season, he socked 14 of his 23 home runs to center or right field. In Monday's opener, he deposited a Mat Latos offering beyond the reach of White Sox center fielder Austin Jackson. In Detroit last month, he clubbed a Justin Verlander pitch into the right-field seats at Comerica Park.

5. Three-trick pony: Cody Anderson was essentially a two-pitch pitcher last season. He played his changeup off of his fastball and, for the most part, it worked. The right-hander went 7-3 with a 3.05 ERA in 15 starts for the Tribe. It hasn't unfolded so smoothly this season, as Anderson entered his spot start on Monday with a 7.99 ERA.

What made Anderson so effective on Monday, when he limited Chicago to one run over seven innings? He unleashed a deceptive curveball that had White Sox hitters flailing at pitches that dropped toward the dirt. Anderson mixed in 21 curveballs among his 94 pitches. Last year, he threw his curveball only 4.7 percent of the time. On Monday, he tossed it 22.3 percent of the time. Of course, getting ahead in the count helps. 

Anderson's fastball topped out at 97.6 mph, with an average measurement of 95.9 mph. His curveball sat at about 83 mph. Anderson, who tallied a career high nine strikeouts, needed only 27 pitches to breeze through his final three frames. He retired the last 13 batters he faced.

Anderson served up 10 home runs over 32 2/3 innings in his first seven outings. He did not surrender a long ball on Monday.

Cleveland Browns have been intrigued by Terrelle Pryor and they drafted four receivers. That led to the decision to cut Brian Hartline.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Scribbles in my Cleveland Browns notebook after Brian Hartline was cut:

1. The only surprise about the Browns cutting Brian Hartline was that it didn't happen earlier. The moment the team drafted four receivers, Hartline was probably done. This is not a statement that Hartline's NFL career is finished. Several NFL teams should be interested in the veteran to add depth to their receivers. But with the Browns? The 29-year-old Hartline made little sense in the massive youth movement that's the story of the orange helmets in 2016.

2. Last season was rough for Hartline. He suffered a broken collarbone and also had a concussion. He missed four games. He caught 46 passes in 12 games, but also had a team-high five drops. The OSU product had a $3 million contract for 2016, but it wasn't guaranteed. He was an endangered species on this team.

3. In this final four games before he was hurt, Hartline caught 34 passes, averaging 10.9 yards per catch. He also caught two TD passes. He seemed to be finding a role in the offense, then broke his collarbone in a game against the 49ers. He had eight catches in three quarters in that game. That's why I expect him to be playing for someone in the NFL this season.

4. The OTAs also had an impact. As Hue Jackson said, "Terrelle Pryor flashed." The Browns coach is intrigued by the former OSU quarterback who is learning to play receiver. Jackson is finding different ways to put the ball in the hands of Pryor.

5. The Browns clearly have Pryor on the same list as rookie receivers Rashard Higgins, Jordan Payton and Ricardo Louis. They plan to give all of them plenty of chances, looking for young guys who can impress and surprise.

6. Corey Coleman is on a different list because he's a first-round draft pick. He'll play a lot. Higgins, Payton, Louis and Pryor will battle for time on the field. I really liked how Higgins plays when I watched the OTAs last Wednesday. Browns offensive assistant Al Saunders works with receivers, and it was easy to see how he was pleased with Higgins. He kept encouraging and praising the young receiver.

7. Payton was at UCLA, finishing up his degree. Coleman and Louis were at the NFL Rookie Synposium so I didn't see them when the media was allowed to watch practice last week.

8. Andrew Hawkins is 30. He played only eight games last season because he suffered multiple concussions. He's still with the team. It's possible he could be cut, but Hawkins played for Cincinnati when Jackson was a Bengals assistant. He really likes Hawkins leadership and he knows Hawkins well. So it's possible they will go with Hawkins as their veteran receiver. Of course, no veteran with the Browns should be too comfortable.

9. Taylor Gabriel is a mini-receiver, much like Hawkins. He is best in the slot. Gabriel had an intriguing rookie season in 2014, catching 36 passes for a 17.3 average. In 2015, he caught only 28 and was no longer was a deep threat -- he averaged only 8.4 per catch. Not sure if the problem was Gabriel, or if the trouble was the offense. But his productivity really dropped.

10. Gabriel was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2014, so his contract for this season isn't guaranteed. He has to be concerned with all the young receivers added by the Browns, especially if they intend to keep Hawkins.

11. In the OTAs, Moore and Darius Jennings had some nice moments. That also might have impacted the decision on Hartline. Moore is a key special teams player, and that's why he's been in the NFL for seven seasons. He can do a decent job as a backup receiver.

12. Darius Jennings also could be under consideration for a roster spot. In 2015, he made the team as an undrafted free agent out of Virginia. He was that school's all-time leading kick return man, and seventh-leading receiver.  After Hartline was hurt, Jennings received some playing time. He appeared in three late-season games, catching 14 passes. His longest catch was for 16 yards, and he averaged 8.4 per catch. He is mostly a possession receiver at 5-foot-10, 170 pounds.

There is opportunity there if anyone can grab it at multiple positions. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns return to the practice field this week for the next three sessions of OTAs. They will practice Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with Wednesday open to the media.

Here are some stray observations leading into the week on the release of Brian Hartline, the running back situation and more:

*The news broke that the Browns were releasing Brian Hartline shortly after I told a coworker I thought he looked good during the one practice that was open last week. That goes to show what I know. It also is a reminder that football in shorts is just that, especially in the early stages of a coaching staff installing an offense. 

*The Browns touted the versatility of the four receivers they drafted once the dust settled in April. Corey Coleman and Ricardo Louis are the burners while Jordan Payton and Rashard Higgins are the guys who can catch anything. They're all unproven, but right now the Browns are in a position to gamble on unproven and appear uninterested in giving reps to a player who turns 30 in November and is bound for free agency. 

*Hartline, by the way, becomes the latest participant in the team's ill-conceived uniform unveiling last year at the Convention Center. If you're scoring at home, it's now Hartline, Dwayne Bowe, Karlos Dansby and Donte Whitner gone. Armonty Bryant is suspended for the first four games of the season. As I said to a few people on Twitter, the whole event is starting to feel like former team president Alec Scheiner's tribute to the Final Destination movie franchise. 

*If you think this means that Andrew Hawkins should watch out, I'm not so sure. Hue Jackson knows Hawkins from his Cincinnati days and seemed excited to have him on the field last week. Then again, I've been wrong before (see above). 

*The running back position wasn't addressed in the draft, but it remains a low-risk gamble for Jackson and his staff. They have little investment in both Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson and the worst-case scenario is that it just doesn't work. The Browns have plenty of resources to address the need next offseason. 

Browns running backs hope to reward Hue Jackson's willingness to 'bet it all' on them

*Johnson seems likely to thrive under Jackson, though. Running back Giovani Bernard was Cincinnati's fourth-leading receiver a year ago and put up 472 yards on 49 catches. Bernard and backfield mate Jeremy Hill were fourth and fifth respectively in 2014, combining for 564 yards on 70 receptions. Even going back to Jackon's Raider days, Michael Bush notched 37 catches for 418 yards in 2011 when Jackson was his head coach and Darren McFadden was the Raiders' third-leading receiver, registering 507 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 47 catches with Jackson as his offensive coordinator. 

*For comparison's sake, Johnson caught the ball 61 times for 534 yards last season. The last Browns running back to even come close to that was Peyton Hillis who caught the ball 61 times for 477 yards in 2010. 

*Crowell's struggles in 2015 are well-documented. He did seem to run the ball better when the Browns began rushing out of more spread formations after fullback Malcolm Johnson's season ended in injury. This is Year Three for the undrafted free agent. He'll need more explosive moments like he had in his rookie season if he hopes to keep one of the other running backs on the roster at bay. 

*Speaking of those other running backs, Terrell Watson is someone to keep an eye on. He spent all of last season on the Bengals practice squad. Glenn Winston remains on the roster as well. He waited forever to get an opportunity last season and then suffered a concussion playing special teams following his first career carry. 

*Randomly, another receiver who looked good last week was Marlon Moore. Moore is mostly a special-teamer and that's how he'll make this team, but he's an easy enough guy to root for. 

*It's beyond fair to be worried about the state of the secondary, especially when Justin Gilbert is spending time working with the first team. I'd feel better about Joe Haden had he been playing better before getting hurt. Tramon Williams was done a disservice getting thrust into the No. 1 corner slot. K'Waun Williams is a nice player but has health concerns. Pierre Desir couldn't get on the field last season despite the struggles of Johnson Bademosi and then-rookie Charles Gaines. Whether that was his fault or the coaching staff's, I don't know, but it's unsettling to go through the depth chart. 

*Then again, as with all positions, it's still only May and there is opportunity. Let's see who can grab it.

Lake Erie Monsters defeat Ontario Reign, 4-0, and can now close out the Western Conference Finals on Thursday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The theme of the Western Conference Finals was on display before an excited crowd at The Q on Tuesday evening. The speed of the Lake Erie Monsters continued to make a difference in their seven-game series with the defending Calder Cup champions Ontario Reign.

A door malfunction along the boards that delayed the game for nearly 12 minutes shortly after the start was all that could slow down the Monsters as they went on to a 4-0 victory over Ontario in Game 3 of the conference finals.

The Monsters are now one victory shy of advancing to the Calder Cup Finals against the Toronto Marlies-Hershey Bears winner of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Bears lead that series 2-0. The Bears and Marlies resume action on Wednesday.

The speed of the Monsters continued to make a difference in their seven-game series with the Calder Cup defending champions Ontario Reign.

Scoring

Right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand fought through contact and scored with a backhand at six minutes for the Monsters' first goal.

The Monsters remained aggressive despite the early goal. Left wing Sonny Milano scored at 7:50 off an assist by Trent Vogelhuber and Steve Eninger for a 2-0 lead.

That was only the beginning as the Monsters continued to skate around the slower Reign. Josh Anderson provided the final goal of the period with a breakaway goal at 10:27 for a 3-0 lead.

Anderson leads the Monsters with seven postseason goals.

The Reign did not pose much of a threat in the second period. They managed to slow down the Monsters but it didn't last. Left wing Markus Hannikainen punched in the puck off a rebound to extend the lead late in the period.

Shutout

Goalie Anton Forsberg finished with 26 saves. This is the seventh shutout collected by the Monsters (five in regular season and two in playoffs).

The Reign were last shut out on Feb. 13 vs. Stockton. They were shut out four previous times this season.

He said it

"I liked our execution and the pace we played with in the first period. We were skating and making some plays and guys scored some big goals for us. We defended well and when we needed a big save we got it. This was our best game of the series by far." -- Monsters coach Jared Bednar.

Next game

Game 4 between the Monsters vs. Ontario Reign is 7 p.m. Thursday at The Q.

Josh Anderson on the breakaway makes it 3-0. #ONTvsLEhttps://t.co/k759DCvgWJ

-- AHL (@TheAHL) May 24, 2016

Watch The Roots perform the NBA Finals Anthem 'Show Me You're a Champion.' Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - As the NBA Finals draws closer, this year's anthem was released by ESPN featuring hip hop/neo soul band The Roots.

Check out the short video of The Roots who was selected to compose this year's NBA Finals theme song, "Show Me You're a Champion."

The Roots, who appear daily on the Late Night Show with Jimmy Fallon, started in 1987 featuring members Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson.

Below are some other memorable music acts to perform for the NBA playoffs.

Bad Man from Pit Bull

Let's Get It Started from The Black Eyed Peas

And the song Awesome

Feel This Moment featuring Pitbull and Christian Aguilera

Burn it Down from Linkin Park

The Cavaliers return to Cleveland on Wednesday for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Raptors tied 2-2 in the seven game series.

Second baseman Todd Hankins went 3-for-4 with an RBI as Akron batters piled up 13 hits overall.

Bradley ZimmerAkron RubberDucks 

ALTOONA, Pennsylvania -- Outfielder Bradley Zimmer had three hits, including a triple and homer, and four RBI as the Akron RubberDucks quickly rebounded from Monday's loss with an 8-3 win Tuesday over the Curve.

Second baseman Todd Hankins went 3-for-4 with an RBI as Akron batters piled up 13 hits overall.

The RubberDucks (32-12) entered the sixth inning trailing, 3-2. Zimmer's two-run triple in the third inning put Akron on the board.

With one out in the sixth, outfielder Taylor Murphy walked, then shortstop Eric Stamets homered to left field off Curve reliever Edgar Santana (2-1, 7.27 ERA). 

Hankins lined out, but third baseman Joe Sever singled and Zimmer made it 6-3 with a two-run home run to left field. First baseman Nellie Rodriguez made it back-to-back homers with a shot to center field to give the RubberDucks a 7-3 lead.

Hankins added an RBI single in the seventh to close out the scoring.

Akron left-handed starter Anderson Polanco (1-2, 9.24) got his first Class AA Eastern League victory, giving up three runs on five hits in five innings. He struck out six. Three RubberDucks relievers combined to hold Altoona to just one hit over the final four innings.

Note: Outfielder Clint Frazier sat out Tuesday's game after suffering a severe cramp in his right leg on Monday.

Go here to see a box score from the game.

Josh Tomlin improved to 7-0 as the Indians handed Chris Sale his first loss of the season with a 6-2 win over the White Sox.

CHICAGO (AP) -- Cleveland manager Terry Francona raved about Josh Tomlin. The Indians roared when Mike Napoli's awkward slide into third base was shown on the TV in the visitors' clubhouse.

Fun night all around for Tomlin and company.

Tomlin beat Chris Sale in a one-sided matchup of unbeaten pitchers and Francisco Lindor had three hits, leading Cleveland to a 6-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday.

"I was able to throw strikes and mix it up enough to where they put the ball in play and the guys made the plays," Tomlin said.

Tomlin pitched eight innings of two-run ball to become the first Indians starter to reach 7-0 since Dennis Martinez won his first nine decisions in 1995. Sale was knocked out in the fourth, ending his bid to become the first pitcher to win his first 10 starts in a season since Andy Hawkins for San Diego in 1985.

It was baseball's first matchup of 6-0 or better pitchers since 1988, and only the fourth time in major league history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

"The past doesn't matter," Sale said. "It's right now. Everything is about right now and nine wins didn't get me anything tonight."

Chris Gimenez homered for Cleveland, which had lost three straight before Monday's 5-1 victory at Chicago in the second game of a doubleheader. Jose Ramirez walked twice and scored twice, and Napoli drove in two runs.

Adam Eaton hit his fifth career leadoff homer and Jose Abreu broke out of a slump with three hits, but the White Sox were unable to overcome a rare off night for Sale (9-1).

"They had some good at-bats against him," manager Robin Ventura said. "They got to a guy that's been rolling along. He was up there velocity-wise, it was uncharacteristic for him. It just seemed like everything was a little harder than normal."

The ace left-hander struck out two in each of the first two innings and then retired the first two batters of the third. But Ramirez followed with a 10-pitch walk, and Sale unraveled from there.

Napoli had a two-run triple and Juan Uribe added an RBI single on the ninth pitch of his at-bat, helping Cleveland to a 3-1 lead. After Tomlin (7-0) quickly retired the White Sox in order in the third, Gimenez led off the fourth with a long drive to left for his second homer and Lindor's one-out RBI single chased Sale from his shortest start of the season.

"In the third inning we did a really good job with the pitch count and we scored," Francona said, "and then we followed it up with more, which is big. I mean we made him work."

Sale was charged with six runs after yielding six runs in his previous five starts combined. He walked four after issuing one walk over his previous three starts, including a streak of consecutive complete games without a single free pass coming into Tuesday.

It was more than enough support for Tomlin, who allowed five hits, struck out six and walked one. The right-hander has issued just six walks in 51 innings this season.

"Seeing him going out there and going all the way to the eighth, couldn't ask for anything better," Lindor said. "I'm glad we have him on our team."

RESTING

Indians 2B Jason Kipnis and C Yan Gomes got the day off. Francona said Lindor likely will rest Wednesday.

Gomes is batting .145 (9 for 62) in May.

"We've been playing a lot of baseball and he's been going through some frustrations," Francona said. "I think that doesn't help your energy level. Hopefully, this will be helpful to him."

NOT BAD AT ALL

Lindor is batting .340 (33 for 97) with two homers and 11 RBIs in May. He is 8 for 18 for his career against Sale.

WORTH NOTING

The White Sox released veteran 1B Travis Ishikawa from his minor league contract. He had been at Triple-A Charlotte.

UP NEXT

Indians RHP Corey Kluber (3-5, 4.10 ERA) and White Sox LHP Jose Quintana (5-3, 1.98 ERA) meet in the finale of the four-game series on Wednesday. Kluber is coming off seven innings of two-run ball in a victory at Boston. Quintana has dropped each of his last two starts, allowing four runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings in a 4-1 loss to Kansas City on Friday night.