The Cavs' personality was on full display as they beat the Toronto Raptors 119-95, extending their winning streak to 9 games.

TORONTO — The Cavs like to break the season into segments. They recently took an internal evaluation of 50 games in an effort to get a clear understanding of where they fit within the NBA hierarchy.

Answer: at the top.

Cleveland beat the Toronto Raptors 119-95 on Saturday night, capping a perfect road trip and extending their winning streak to nine games. The Cavs boast the best road record in the league at 17-8 and have lost just twice since the start of January.

One of those setbacks came in Toronto – a 124-121 loss to open the new year. But the Cavs are a much different team these days — and it doesn't take a roster overhaul like the Raptors did to make it happen.

Before the game, Cavs coach JB Bickerstaff was asked to briefly explain the team's new identity for anyone who hasn't been paying attention during this promotion. He called the Cavs a competitive and selfless team with good habits.

A team that wins together. The same.

“We want to win every game. We want to win every game as much as possible,” said Max Strus. “I love this team. There's a lot of fighting, a lot of hunger, guys want to be great. We share in each other's success and enjoy it.”

That team-first style was on full display Saturday night. Despite playing for the third time in four nights, the Cavs came out with a lot of energy and effort. They shared the ball and had 36 assists on 48 shots. They flashed a suffocating defense that held their second opponent under the 100-point mark, ranking second on the season. They bombed from 3-point range, going 14-of-41 (34.1%). They had eight different players score in double figures, including all five starters. Dean Wade was the only regular who failed to make a hit.

“I hate to oversimplify it, but we just gave the ball to the open man,” Bickerstaff explained. “That's what this game is all about. I think sometimes people get bored with simple things. But through this stretch you guys have continued to watch, we're not going to make it difficult.”

Center Jarrett Allen was omitted as an Eastern Conference All-Star, and NBA commissioner Adam Silver recently selected Scotty Barnes as an injury replacement – leading the way with 18 points and 15 rebounds. His frontcourt partner Evan Mobley also had a double-double with 17 points and 11 boards. Both players combined for the fourth time this season with a double-double in the same game and the 22nd time overall to form a devastating infield pairing.

Star guard Donovan Mitchell added 15 points. Strus had 14 points and 7 assists. Caris LeVert (13 points), George Niang (13), Isaac Okoro (12) and Darius Garland (11) also finished in double figures.

For the Raptors, Barnes had a triple-double with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Canada's Kelly Olympique made his Toronto debut after being acquired at the deadline, scoring 11 points and grabbing six rebounds. RJ Barrett snapped a streak of 20-point nights at six games. Barrett finished with 14 points on just 5 of 14 shooting from the field.

The Raptors shot 40.2% and 29% from 3-point range. They led for just two minutes, including five lead changes and five ties — all in the first quarter. After that, it was all about the Cavs, who beat another lesser opponent and displayed a much different level of dominance than they did against Toronto just over a month ago.

“It's not going to be an easy night for the opposition,” Bickerstaff said when asked what the Cavs have been showing lately. “Our guys have completely grasped the idea of ​​what they can do defensively and how important that is to our success. They are proud of it. They feed on something and want to create. They get frustrated when guys score on them, give up offensive tackles or rebounds. I want our guys to believe it like they do and for our opponents to feel us. Defense wins. Travels. It will allow you to achieve sustainable success.”

In the 19 games since the calendar flipped to 2024 — the start of an unprecedented streak — the Cavs have fallen just 188 minutes short of a possible 912 minutes.

Cavs hoops are the best.

The Cavs return to Cleveland for their final two games before the All-Star break. The first matchup is Monday night against the Philadelphia 76ers. The evening is set for 7 o'clock