Cleveland Cavaliers take 3-2 lead over Toronto Raptors in NBA Eastern Conference finals

LeBron James scored 23 points then sat out the fourth quarter and Kevin Love scored 25 as Cleveland regained control of the Eastern Conference finals with a 116-78 rout of Toronto.

Following two straight losses in Canada, the Cavaliers opened a 34-point lead in the first half of Game 5, and pushed it to 43 in the second to take a 3-2 series lead on Thursday.

Cleveland can clinch their second straight conference title and trip to the NBA Finals with a win in game six on Friday night in Toronto.

"We've got to come out from the beginning and that starts with the Big Three," James said, referring to himself, Love and Kyrie Irving, who added 23 points. "We'll be much better."

Cleveland clicked at both ends in Game 5, handing the Raptors a beating that could linger into the offseason.

After coming in with momentum and confidence, Toronto's players left the Quicken Loans Arena shaken and one loss from having their deepest playoff run stopped.

"They kicked our butts, bottom line," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "That's been all three ballgames."

James had eight assists and six rebounds in 31 minutes before checking out late in the third quarter with the Cavs up 37. He spent the fourth quarter resting on the bench while Cleveland's reserves finished the romp.

At half-time, James, Irving and Love had outscored the Raptors 43-34. Cleveland has won its three games in the series by a combined 88 points, and won its last four over Toronto at home by 110.

"They are a different team here," Casey said. "We came in here with a chance to do something special and we didn't get it done. They pushed us around and took what they wanted."

DeMar DeRozan scored 14 and Kyle Lowry 13 for the Raptors, who were overwhelmed from the start. Bismack Biyombo had just four rebounds after getting 40 the past two games. The only positive for Toronto was centre Jonas Valanciunas, who returned after missing eight straight games with a sprained right ankle. He scored nine points in 18 minutes.

Love found his shooting touch after it went missing during the lost weekend in Toronto, as he responded by making all four field goal attempts, dropping a three late in the first quarter that pushed the Cavs to a 37-19 lead.

"It was a bounce-back game for him," James said. "He's a true professional."

Cleveland's onslaught continued in the second quarter, and when James got free for an easy two-handed dunk, Cavs fans started to relax.