NBA Star LeBron James rips own team as Toronto Raptors thrash Cavaliers

For the first time in his career, LeBron James has lost consecutive games by 25-plus points.

The Cavaliers were thumped by the Timberwolves by 28 on Monday and got crushed by the Raptors on Thursday despite Toronto playing without two of its better players in Kyle Lowry (tailbone) or Serge Ibaka (suspension).

James recorded a career-worst minus-39 rating Monday and was minus-22 Thursday with just one assist as Cleveland's defense was non-existent in the first half of the 133-99 defeat to cap the season's midpoint.

Greatest Win: Toronto Raptors Beat Miaimi Heats To The Finals For the First Time

AP Toronto Raptors' DeMar DeRozan, right, and Kyle Lowry celebrate during the second half of Game 7

Kyle Lowry scored 35 points, DeMar DeRozan had 28 and the Toronto Raptors beat the Miami Heat 116-89 on Sunday in Game 7 to reach the conference finals for the first time in franchise history.

The 116-89 victory, behind 35 points in a monster game from Kyle Lowry, sends the Raptors to the Eastern Conference final for the first time in the team’s 21-year history, where the terrifying Cleveland Cavaliers await. Bismack Biyombo added 17 points and 16 rebounds for the Raptors. They'll open the Eastern Conference finals in Cleveland against LeBron James and the Cavaliers on Tuesday night.

“I know it’s kind of cliché, but we never doubted Kyle and DeMar (DeRozan),” coach Dwane Casey said after the All-Star guards combined for 63 points, their biggest total of the playoffs. Now the Raptors get ready for the Cavaliers, who swept Detroit in the first round and have been resting since May 8, when they capped a second-round sweep of Atlanta.

Wassup With Toronto Raptors Losing Streak, Four In A Row

Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (right) and head coach Dwane Casey walk off the court at the end of their 103-95 loss to the Charlotte Hornets in NBA action in Toronto Thursday January 8, 2015.

Lori Ewing The Canadian Press
The once-red hot Toronto Raptors have suddenly gone cold.

And while Kyle Lowry said a four-game losing streak is nothing to fret over, his chilly demeanour in the post-game dressing room Thursday night said otherwise.

The Raptors dropped a 103-95 decision to the Charlotte Hornets, spoiling the team’s homecoming after a disappointing road trip. And Lowry, who led the way with 24 points, was positively terse with reporters after the lacklustre loss.

“Tonight we sucked as a team, and we’ve got to figure it out soon,” Lowry said. “We’ve got a game on Saturday, and tonight we sucked as a team, but we had a bad game, and I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

Rapper Drake talks role as Toronto Raptors unofficial mascot

Lori Ewing  CP
Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey said he often gets asked about Drake.

“I get texts: ‘Do you know Drake? Have you met Drake?’ He sits there every night, he hears me cuss out the referees every night,” Casey said, laughing. “He knows all my cuss words.”

Part rapper, part Raptors mascot, Drake is the basketball team’s global ambassador, and has his own courtside seat at the Air Canada Centre, about an arm’s length away from where Casey paces and hollers at the referees.

The rapper-songwriter hosted his second annual “Drake Night,” on Wednesday at the Air Canada Centre, as the Raptors played Brooklyn for the first time since the Nets ousted Toronto in the first round of last season’s playoffs.

A sell-out crowd of 19,800 fans received keepsake “Drake Night” T-shirts. Drake announced the Raptors’ lineup pre-game before taking his usual courtside seat. He spent some time at the broadcast table doing guest commentary.

Kyle Lowry Of Toronto Raptors Nails Brooklyn Nets

Toronto Keep Getting Wins As Kyle Lowry carries Raptors past Knicks, 95-90

New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony, left, looks for a pass from Quincy Acy, right, while Toronto Raptors' Landry Fields defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014 in New York. AP

Brian MahoneyThe Associated Press
Too many fouls. Way too many turnovers — nine alone from their star point guard.

So what if Kyle Lowry and the Toronto Raptors weren’t perfect? Come overtime, they went from flawed to nearly flawless.

“We had so many mistakes on both sides, even defensively,” coach Dwane Casey said. “But it was one of those games, if you’re serious about winning, you find a way to get it done and our guys did it.”

Lowry had 21 points and 11 assists, controlling the overtime period and leading the Raptors to a 95-90 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday night.

Lowry had nine turnovers and missed a jumper that would’ve won it to end regulation, but then had two baskets and an assist in overtime, accounting for more points than the Knicks managed as a team.