CLEVELAND -- The Cavaliers are far more focused on how theyll finish. They are not complaining about their start, though.With Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson sitting courtside, LeBron James came up one rebound shy of a triple-double and Kyrie Irving scored 24 points to lead Cleveland to a 121-117 win over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night, making the Cavs 9-1 to match their best start after 10 games.James had 28 points and 14 assists as the Cavs improved to 2-0 this season against the Raptors, the team they beat in last seasons Eastern Conference finals and the one they could meet there again in 2017.The Cavs last went 9-1 in 1976-77.I dont really pay attention to the records, said James. But I do pay attention to the teams were playing, and what they bring to the table.The Raptors bring a lot, and are one of the only teams in the East capable of going to toe-to-toe with the defending NBA champions. However, Toronto came up short against Cleveland just as it did in last years playoffs.Im not encouraged by any loss, said Raptors guard Kyle Lowry, who finished with 28 points and nine assists. We want to win every single game. Every time we touch the floor we want to win games.Channing Fryes 3-pointer from the top of the key with 59 seconds left put the Cavs up by one. Cleveland then buckled down on defense, holding the Raptors scoreless until letting Lowry make a layup with 2.8 seconds left.Kevin Love added 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Cavs, who have already had their share of tight games.Were one of the teams at the top thats going to get every teams best shot, Love said. Thats a team we have history with. Theyre well-coached. They know how to play and you saw them fight back tonight. Thats the kind of tension in playing those type of teams early thats going to be good for us. Weve had certain lapses in our first 10 games that we need to clean up. But were getting teams best shots home or away and well be a better team for it.DeMar DeRozan added 26 for the Raptors, who complained about fouls called against Lowry and Jonas Valanciunas in the final two minutes and a possible goaltending violation against the Cavs that wasnt called in the closing seconds. Toronto came in 5-0 in games where Lowry and DeRozan combined for more than 50 points.Lowry was also whistled for a technical in the final two minutes.The ball bounced of my foot, Lowry said. I wasnt trying to slam it. I dribbled the ball and it bounced of my foot. Its not like it went far. Coach (Dwane Casey) caught the ball. Whatever, keep my money.The Cavs made 13 3-pointers and have dropped at least 10 in all 10 games, extending their league record to start a season.TIP-INS:Raptors: With so many shooters, and James passing ability, the Cavs can stress defenses to the max. They have that extra point guard on the floor in LeBron, Casey said. He finds people the normal human being doesnt see.Cavaliers: Coach Tyronn Lue is hopeful J.R. Smith can return for Wednesdays game at Indiana. Smith needs three 3-pointers to pass Dirk Nowitzki for 15th place on the career list. ... G/F Mike Dunleavy is off to a rough start in his first season with Cleveland. Acquired from Chicago over the summer, Dunleavy is shooting just 29 percent (8 of28) on 3-pointers. Were not worried about Mike, Lue said. Hes going to find his way.ON THE BENCHThe Raptors played without starting forward DeMarre Carroll, who was given the night off to rest his surgically repaired knee. He also sat out Saturdays game against New York as he continues to recover from right knee surgery.Smith missed his second straight game with a sprained right ankle, leaving Cleveland without one of its top outside threats and defenders.FINALS TESTOn consecutive nights, the Raptors are taking on the leagues top two teams in Cleveland and Golden State, last seasons finals participants.It should be fun, Casey said. It should be exciting for our players to go against the champion and the runner-up from last year. Its not going to make or break our season. It will help our young guys to get the experience against the two best teams and the two best players in the league this early in the season.Brooklyn is the only other team that will play the Cavs and Warriors on consecutive nights (Dec. 22-23).UP NEXTRaptors: Host Golden State on Wednesday.Cavaliers: Play at Indiana on Wednesday. Doug Ault Jersey . 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The incident occurred at 19:56 of the second period of the Kings 4-2 road win over Edmonton on Sunday. Nolan punched Oilers forward Jesse Joensuu in the jaw in front of the Kings goal during a scrum. WASHINGTON -- The Washington Nationals comfortably lead the NL East, but after losing four straight games, they needed a win. Good thing it was Max Scherzers turn in the rotation.Scherzer allowed two hits over eight innings and Bryce Harpers two-run double helped the Nationals avoid a four-game home-and-home sweep with a 4-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night.Scherzer (14-7) struck out 10 and did not walk a batter. He retired 12 straight after Adam Joness fourth-inning double and 21 of 22 before Mark Trumbos leadoff single in the eighth.He stopped the skid, Harper said of Scherzer. Unbelievable start by him tonight. You kind of imagine him going out there and doing that. When he does it, its that much better.Jayson Werths solo home run off Ubaldo Jimenez (5-11) in the fourth inning staked Washington to a 1-0 lead. Daniel Murphys RBI double in the eighth came before Harpers second hit helped the Nationals pull away.The Nationals had dropped three straight to the Orioles, who won twice in Baltimore before the teams shifted to Washington.Trumbo stole second base with two outs in the eighth, but J.J. Hardy flied out to deep center field on Scherzers 95th and final pitch. Mark Melancon allowed one hit in the ninth.We needed that so badly, Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. Masterful. Masterful job by Max.Scherzer won his second straight start, but was far more dominant than in each of his two previous outings when he allowed eight runs and struck out nine.The right-hander retired the first nine batters and struck out two in each of the first three innings. Scherzer recorded his 47th game -- 11th this season -- with at least 10 strikeouts.Jimenez allowed one run and five hits over six innings. He made his first start since July 28, but has lost three straight. The right-hander made three relief appearances before re-entering Baltimores rotation because of Chris Tillmans injury.It felt really good to be able to be there for the team, especially right now (since) Tilly went down, Jimenez said. Felt good that I was able to compete and give us a chance to be close.Scherzer helped his own cause defensively in the fifth without sseeing the ball.dddddddddddd With his back facing home plate, he fielded a comebacker hit by Jonathan Schoop between his legs and threw him out at first base.I think were going to be hearing a lot about that in the next couple of days so I dont want to give him too much credit, Harper joked.Manny Machados home run helped fuel Baltimores offense in Wednesdays 10-8 triumph. On Thursday, he went hitless in four at-bats and 0 for 3 against Scherzer, falling to 1 of 18 all-time in the head-to-head matchup. Machado struck out with Jones on third and one out in the fourth.You cant just float anything in there. Everything has to be full throttle, Scherzer said of facing Baltimore. With that lineup, if you make one mistake their going to hit it 450 feet.After Jones was left stranded, Werth hammered the first pitch in the fourth over the wall in center field.Harper singled in the fourth and stole his 18th base, matching his career-high.HELP ARRIVESWashington acquired LHP Marc Rzepczynski (1-0, 3.00 ERA) and cash from Oakland on Thursday for minor league INF Max Schrock.STRONG GRIP2016 Olympic gold medalist wrestler Helen Maroulis, who hails from the Maryland suburbs, threw out the first pitch.TRAINERS ROOMOrioles: Jones left in the ninth with hamstring cramps, but said he expects to play Friday. ... Manager Buck Showalter said Tillman (right shoulder bursitis) would throw on flat ground Monday or Tuesday.Nationals: Stephen Strasburg, on the 15-day DL with right elbow soreness, played catch the last two days, Baker said, adding that the soreness is not in the same spot where Strasburg had Tommy John surgery in 2010. ... RHP Joe Ross, out since July3 with right shoulder inflammation, threw Thursday and may not be too far of from going on a rehab assignment, Baker said.UP NEXTOrioles: Yovani Gallardo (4-5, 5.08) and Yankees RHP Luis Cessa (3-0, 4.01 ERA) open the three-game series in New York.Nationals: LHP Gio Gonzalez (8-9, 4.30) faces Rockies RHP Jeff Hoffman (0-1, 13.50) in the first of three games against Colorado. ' ' '