The Toronto Raptors' win in Game 3 came down to three words from DeMar DeRozan.

“We just executed.”

The Raptors' execution was good enough to offset a remarkable fourth-quarter shooting performance by the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Raptors are now 8-2 at home this postseason, and they are the second team to even a series 2-2 after being down two games to none to a LeBron James-led Cavaliers team (the other is the 2012 Boston Celtics).

Kyle Lowry and DeRozan combined for 67 points, with Lowry scoring 35 and DeRozan adding 32. It’s the most they’ve combined for in a game as teammates.

Execution meant making 3-pointers for Lowry. He’s 8-of-15 from 3-point range in the past two games. He was 1-of-15 on 3-pointers in Games 1 and 2. His four 35-point playoff games are the most in Raptors history, one more than Vince Carter.

Lowry and DeRozan both executed on the dribble-drive. The Raptors scored 48 points off drives in Game 3 (they averaged 30 points off drives in the first three games). The Raptors’ duo combined for 36 of those. The Raptors scored 17 of their final 22 points in the game off drives to the basket.

Lowry and DeRozan are the first pair of teammates to score at least 30 points and shoot at least 60 percent from the field in a conference finals game since Charles Barkley and Dan Majerle did for the 1993 Suns against the SuperSonics.

Lowry and DeRozan are also the first starting backcourt to score at least 30 points each in a conference finals game since Terry Porter and Clyde Drexler did for the Trail Blazers against the Jazz in 1992.

Cavaliers go from red hot to ice cold

The Cavaliers made their first 11 shots of the fourth quarter to briefly take the lead on multiple occasions. But in the final 4:11, they were 1-of-10 from the field and 1-of-8 from 3-point range. James took only one shot (and missed it) in the last 5:09.

Looking ahead

With the series now tied, our Basketball Power Index gives the Cavaliers a 69 percent chance to win the series and reach the NBA Finals.