AS I write this (deadline tyranny, once more), Cleveland was up 114-98 over Toronto in Game 2 of their NBA Eastern Conference semifinals, time down to 6:07.

LeBron “King” James and the Cavs won Game 1 in Toronto 113-112. The overtime victory was dubbed a steal of a win as the Cavs tasted the lead only in the five-minute extension.

Cleveland wasn’t supposed to win Game 1.

Toronto was well rested.

Toronto was on home advantage.

The King himself admitted he was burnt, after having only a one-day rest, and after having been pushed to a Game 7 by Indiana.

Thus, his Game 1 appearance could “only” produce 26 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists for his 21st triple-double in the playoffs.

Never mind the “measly” tag on his effort.

Consider:

The King’s teammates J.R. Smith fired 20 points, Kyle Korver 19, Jeff Green 16 and Tristan Thompson 14.

When his court delivers, the King is in safe hands.

I glanced at my Huawei (No deal with Huawei, OK?): 121-98, Cleveland up, only 3:43 left.

Ah, the magic of phone technology.

Can Toronto erase such a huge 20-point deficit with 3:30 remaining?

I do not have the NBA Channel as I’m a Sky loyalist from Day One. (Cignal, though carries the NBA games consistently. But I don’t have Cignal. Hu-hu-hu.)

I’ve been relying mainly on the goodness of ABS-CBN’s good heart to air NBA games.

Hopeful still that S&A’s Channel 166 will air all of Cleveland’s remaining matches against Toronto. (Suntok sa buwan?)

Yes, as you might have known it here already, I am a LeBron diehard.

With 2:34 left and with a 123-105 Cavs lead, Cleveland looked ready to win again.

My Huawei said: Toronto won the first quarter 29-26, but after Cleveland grabbed a 35-34 second frame lead, the Cavs poured it on in the third with an enormous 37-24 bubble.

Toronto couldn’t counter and Cleveland continued cutting the Raptors to bits and pieces in the fourth en route to an unbelievable 128-110 triumph for an unlikely 2-0 Cavs lead.

That made it 8-0 in playoffs record for Cleveland over Toronto, dating from 2016’s 4-2 Cleveland win and 2017’s Cleveland 4-0 sweep.

Will S&A air Game 3?

Huawei, standby.