NBA: DeRozan frustrated by degradation in Game 3

The Toronto Raptors also lost their third game in the series against the Cleveland Cavaliers (103:105) on Sunday night and are now on the verge of being swept, as they were last year. In the final phase of Game 3, DeMar DeRozan was no factor at all.

DeRozan had had problems throughout the game and then had to watch the entire last 14 minutes from the bench. Previously he had hit three of his twelve throws (8 points) and had not got along with the Cavs-Defense at all. Raptors coach Dwane Casey therefore preferred him to other players in the final stages.

“It’s extremely hard, extremely hard,” DeRozan said afterwards about the defeat and his degradation. “I just want to be out there helping my team more than anything. It’s definitely not nice to watch it from outside.”

DeRozan had averaged 27.8 points in the playoffs so far, leading the Raptors. Now he said to himself: “At that moment it’s definitely not nice, in addition to the defeat. You never want to play as crappy a game as I had. But I got one more game, one more chance. That’s what it’s all about.”

Casey also said he expected his all-star to improve: “He had a tough evening. But he wasn’t the reason we lost either. We are professionals. He’s had other bad games, but he’ll be back. Now it’s our season, our pride,” said the coach.

Game 4 of the series will also take place on the night of Tuesday in Cleveland (2:30 a.m. on DAZN).