The Cleveland Cavaliers' barnstorming run through the NBA Playoffs has finally hit a speed bump with the Toronto Raptors scoring a big win.
The Raptors triumphed 99-84 on their home court on Saturday night to cut Cleveland's lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals series to 2-1.
It was the Cavaliers' first loss of the playoffs.
The Cavaliers had looked indestructible going into the game after sweeping the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks 4-0 and beating the Raptors by 31 points in game one and 19 in game two.
But the Raptors stood toe-to-toe and physically challenged the Cavaliers for the first time in the series and in the second quarter held an 18-point lead.
"We were aggressive," said Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan, who top-scored with 32 points.
"It was a must win."
Raptors centre Bismack Biyombo was a monster with 26 rebounds, including eight offensive, and four blocked shots.
The Cavaliers' Australian point guard Matthew Dellavedova played 12 minutes despite only being cleared shortly before tip-off because of a rolled left ankle suffered in game two.
Dellavedova, one of the Cavaliers' most reliable three-point shooters, had a second consecutive scoreless game, missing all four field goal attempts.
LeBron James had 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists while the team's other All-Stars, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, struggled.
Irving had 13 points from 3-19 shooting and Love had just three points with just one field goal from nine attempts.
In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder will return to their home court on Sunday (Monday AEST) locked 1-1 in the series with the defending champion Golden State Warriors.
The Warriors Australian centre Andrew Bogut has struggled with a groin injury and the Thunder's big man, Kiwi Steven Adams, has back and thumb injuries, but both will benefit from the three-day break between game two and three.
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