It is a whole lot more fun, not to mention a whole lot more successful, to be the punisher than be the punished in an NBA playoff game, the Cavaliers are learning in their quarterfinal series with the Raptors.

The Cavaliers won both games in Cleveland to take a 2-0 lead into Toronto for Game 3 at 8 p.m. April 23 at Scotiabank Arena. Cleveland is the only team in the Eastern Conference with a 2-0 first-round lead.

“I’m not sure last year we had the physical kind of resilience,” Coach Kenny Atkinson said April 20 in his postgame news conference after the Cavs beat the Raptors, 115-105. “I feel like we’re physically more capable this year. They tried to wear us down tonight, and we didn’t. I felt at times last year in the playoffs we were not up to the task physically.

“Sam (Merrill) is a part of that. It’s hard to bully him and push him around. He’s a way underrated defender in this league. We trust him. We’ll put him on (Brandon) Ingram. We’ll put him on (Jamal) Shead. He can guard multiple guys. He’s not backing down. He’s physically stronger than you think.”

Merrill comes off the bench to add his 3-point shooting and defensive stinginess. Dean Wade is an underrated defender as a starter who is usually assigned the opponent’s best shooter. That role belonged to Isaac Okoro before Okoro was traded to the Bulls last summer.

“Dean has been phenomenal at both ends,” Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell said. “He’s rolling, he’s screening, he’s defending. He’s doing everything. His impact is extremely high.”

Atkinson expects a loud and rowdy crowd to boo the Cavaliers and inspire the Raptors, just as the Cleveland fans in a sold-out Rocket Arena gave it to the Raptors every time a Toronto player was on the foul line. The Cavaliers, 52-30 overall, were 25-16 on the road in 2025-26. They lost the only regular-season game they played in Toronto this season — 110-99 on Nov. 24.

Atkinson believes his team will be ready to handle the adversity.

“We have a veteran team,” the second-year Cavs coach said. “They understand we don’t want to come back to Cleveland 2-2. (The Raptors), obviously they’re going to be home with one of the best crowds in the NBA.

“We’re going to have to resist their first hit physically and then mentally deal with being on the road. It’s a big game for us. It would be huge to go up three.”

If the Cavaliers do win on April 23 they would have a chance to sweep the series when they face the Raptors at 1 p.m. April 26 in Toronto. Game 5, if necessary, would be April 29 at Rocket Arena at a time to be determined.

Cavaliers at Raptors

What: Eastern Conference first round, Game 3; Cavs lead series, 2-0

When: 8 p.m., April 23

Where: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto

TV: PRIME Video

Radio: WMMS-FM 100.7