TORONTO, (Reuters) – The Cleveland Cavaliers suffered their second successive loss, despite a triple-double by league MVP LeBron James, in the new NBA season on Wednesday with a 101-91 defeat to the Toronto Raptors.
Cleveland, saddled with high expectations following the off-season acquisition of Shaquille O’Neal, Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon, again disappointed one day after they lost their season opener to the Boston Celtics
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James posted 23 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds for the Cavaliers, while Italian center Andrea Bargnani led the Raptors with 28 points and Chris Bosh contributed 21 points and 16 rebounds.
O’Neal had 12 points and seven rebounds for a second solid effort for Cleveland, who shot a poor 35 percent from the field.
“It’s a long season, we know what we have to do,” O’Neal told the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
“Coach is still learning us, we’re still learning the system, it’s a work in progress.”
