Raptors add to reeling Cavs’ misery

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Byron Scott expected the Cavaliers to have some rough patches. Cleveland’s first-year coach never imagined things would only get worse.

The Cavaliers are sliding.

And Scott doesn’t know how to stop them.

Lacking any defensive intensity, the Cavaliers lost their eight straight game on Wednesday night, thumped 120-105 by the Raptors, who snapped an 11-game losing streak in Cleveland and dropped the getting-worse-by-the-day Cavs to 1-18 since Nov. 27.

“Every time I think we’re taking a step forward, we’re taking two steps back,” Scott said. “That’s frustrating for any coach.”

Andrea Bargnani scored 25, Leandro Barbosa added 22 and Jose Calderon had a season-high 17 assists as the Raptors snapped a three-game losing streak and won for just the fourth time in 16 games. Calderon, back after missing one game with a sprained ankle, added 20 points and Julian Wright 15 for Toronto.

The Raptors trailed by 15 in the first quarter, but had little trouble coming back against a Cleveland team going through the motions.

“We just didn’t guard tonight, anybody,” Scott said. “We’ve got to do a better job. We’ve got to take it personal. When you’re one on one with a guy, it’s got to be personal. Sometimes when those guys scored, it didn’t hurt. It’s got to hurt.”

Antawn Jamison scored 32 for Cleveland.