It took just one game for the Toronto Raptors to lose home-court advantage in their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. That makes Thursday’s Game 2 essentially a must win for the favoured Raptors.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

So much for Toronto having figured out its Game 1 issues. The Raptors ended a 10-game losing streak in playoff openers in the first round with a 114-106 home victory. However, Toronto absolutely blew Game 1 of the East semifinals at home Tuesday night against nemesis LeBron James and the Cavaliers, falling 113-112 in overtime. We predicted the Cavaliers cover of the 7-point spread but a 114-110 Toronto victory. Half right. Just like that, all the work Toronto did to secure home-court advantage is gone.

Rather amazingly, the Cavaliers never led once before OT. It thus became the first postseason game of LeBron’s Hall of Fame career where his team got the win despite never leading during regulation. Toronto had been -227 on the Sports Interaction series line but is now +113. Cleveland has shifted from +158 to -157. The favoured exact result was Raptors in five and seven at +300 and now is Raptors in seven (+274) slightly over Cavaliers in six (+284).

For Game 2, early action on the spread is heavily on Cleveland so that number could drop by tipoff. On the total of 212.5, the vast majority of early bets is on the over. The Cavs are given a total of 103 and the Raptors 109.5. The favoured winning margin is Toronto by 3-6 points at +450.

Cleveland Cavaliers

It sure seemed like everything was going against the Cavs in Game 1. They barely had 48 hours rest since finishing off a grueling seven-game first-round series with Indiana. LeBron admitted he was a bit burned out immediately following the Pacers series, during which he averaged more than 41 minutes per game – after playing all 82 games in the regular season for the first time in his career. While LeBron had a triple-double of 26 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds vs. the Raptors, he was just 12-for-30 from the field and 1-for-8 from deep.

However, James got some help, unlike much of the Indiana series. J.R. Smith awoke from the dead with 20 points and Kyle Korver added 19. Jeff Green and Tristan Thompson, usually afterthoughts vs. the Pacers, combined for 30 points off the bench. All that seems unlikely again in Thursday’s NBA matchup.

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors, tied for the most regular-season home wins in the NBA, had two more days of rest entering Game 1. They were gifted with LeBron shooting 40 percent from the field and zero overtime points. Fellow All-Star Kevin Love was just 3-for-13 for seven points. Both Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan hit half their shots. Toronto never trailed in regulation and still lost? Almost impossible.

Then again, the Raptors were just 3-for-18 from the field (0-for-5 from deep) in the final four minutes of regulation and all of overtime. They scored just four points off Cleveland turnovers, while the Cavs had 21 off Toronto giveaways. The Raptors also wasted a huge game from Jonas Valanciunas, who had 21 points and 21 rebounds. It’s highly unlikely in Game 2 that the Cleveland bench outscores Toronto’s again. In fact, the Cavs might mail this one in knowing they already got a split.

Injuries

Cleveland

JR Smith (SG)

Ques Mon Illness - 06 / 05 / 18

George Hill (PG)

Prob Tues Back - 01 / 05 / 18

Rodney Hood (SG)

Prob Wed Personal - 18 / 04 / 18

Kyle Korver (SG)

Prob Wed Illness - 16 / 04 / 18

Tristan Thompson (C)

Prob Sun Personal - 13 / 04 / 18

Jose Calderon (PG)

Prob Mon Hamstring - 05 / 04 / 18

Jeff Green (SF)

Prob Tues Illness - 23 / 03 / 18

Larry Nance Jr. (PF)

Ques Fri Hamstring - 14 / 03 / 18

Cedi Osman (SF)

Prob Wed Hip - 10 / 03 / 18

LeBron James (SF)

Prob Tues Leg - 12 / 02 / 18

Toronto

Fred VanVleet (PG)

Prob Thurs Shoulder - 01 / 05 / 18

OG Anunoby (SF)

Prob Wed Ankle - 23 / 04 / 18

Pascal Siakam (PF)

Prob Sun Mouth - 21 / 04 / 18

Serge Ibaka (PF)

Prob Sat Mouth - 12 / 04 / 18

Norman Powell (SF)

Ques Mon Knee - 09 / 04 / 18

Lucas Nogueira (C)

Ques Sat Hamstring - 08 / 04 / 18

Jonas Valanciunas (C)

Out Sun Rest - 08 / 04 / 18

CJ Miles (SF)

Prob Sun Illness - 21 / 03 / 18

Delon Wright (PG)

Doub Sun Toe - 06 / 03 / 18

Nigel Hayes (SF)

Ques Fri Personal - 06 / 03 / 18

Injuries

Cleveland

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
JR Smith (SG)	Ques Mon	Illness - 06 / 05 / 18	7-6	6-7	+ -
Smith is ailing from an illness and it is unknown if he will play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Raptors.
George Hill (PG)	Prob Tues	Back - 01 / 05 / 18	8-7	8-7	+ -
Hill is nursing back soreness but is expected to suit up for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Raptors.
Rodney Hood (SG)	Prob Wed	Personal - 18 / 04 / 18	9-12	9-12	+ -
Hood is likely to suit up against the Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round despite a personal matter.
Kyle Korver (SG)	Prob Wed	Illness - 16 / 04 / 18	9-12	9-12	+ -
Korver is dealing with an illness but is expected to play against the Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Tristan Thompson (C)	Prob Sun	Personal - 13 / 04 / 18	9-13	9-13	+ -
Thompson is away from the team due to the birth of his child but is expected to play against the Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Jose Calderon (PG)	Prob Mon	Hamstring - 05 / 04 / 18	12-14	12-14	+ -
Calderon has sat out the last two games due to a sore left hamstring but is expected to be available for Monday's contest against the Knicks.
Jeff Green (SF)	Prob Tues	Illness - 23 / 03 / 18	18-15	14-19	+ -
Green sat out the last game with whooping cough but is likely to play Tuesday against the Heat.
Larry Nance Jr. (PF)	Ques Fri	Hamstring - 14 / 03 / 18	20-18	18-20	+ -
Nance Jr. has been held out of the previous four games with tightness in his right hamstring and it is unclear if he will return for Friday's matchup against the Suns.
Cedi Osman (SF)	Prob Wed	Hip - 10 / 03 / 18	21-19	18-22	+ -
Osman has been sidelined with a left hip strain but is likely to return against the Hornets on Wednesday.
LeBron James (SF)	Prob Tues	Leg - 12 / 02 / 18	25-24	22-27	+ -
James suffered a leg injury in the previous game but is expected to play Tuesday against the Thunder.

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Fred VanVleet (PG)	Prob Thurs	Shoulder - 01 / 05 / 18	2-2	2-2	+ -
VanVleet is dealing with a shoulder injury but is expected to be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Cavaliers.
OG Anunoby (SF)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 23 / 04 / 18	3-3	2-4	+ -
Anunoby suffered an ankle injury but is likely to be available for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Wizards.
Pascal Siakam (PF)	Prob Sun	Mouth - 21 / 04 / 18	3-4	3-4	+ -
Siakam will likely be available for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Wizards despite requiring stitches for a lacerated lip.
Serge Ibaka (PF)	Prob Sat	Mouth - 12 / 04 / 18	5-5	6-4	+ -
Ibaka is expected to play against the Wizards in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round despite taking a hit to his mouth in a previous game.
Norman Powell (SF)	Ques Mon	Knee - 09 / 04 / 18	6-5	7-5	+ -
Powell suffered a knee injury in the previous game and it is unclear if he will play Monday against the Pistons.
Lucas Nogueira (C)	Ques Sat	Hamstring - 08 / 04 / 18	7-5	7-6	+ -
Nogueira is dealing with left hamstring tightness and it is uncertain if he will play against the Wizards in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Jonas Valanciunas (C)	Out Sun	Rest - 08 / 04 / 18	7-5	7-6	+ -
Valanciunas will receive a day of rest and will not participate in Sunday's game against the Magic.
CJ Miles (SF)	Prob Sun	Illness - 21 / 03 / 18	8-12	11-10	+ -
Miles has missed the last two games due to a bout of gastroenteritis but is expected to be available against the Clippers on Sunday.
Delon Wright (PG)	Doub Sun	Toe - 06 / 03 / 18	13-16	15-15	+ -
Wright missed the last game due to a sprained right big toe and is not likely to play on Sunday against the Knicks.
Nigel Hayes (SF)	Ques Fri	Personal - 06 / 03 / 18	13-16	15-15	+ -
Hayes is dealing with visa issues and it is uncertain if he will be available for Friday's tilt against the Rockets.

Cavaliers vs. Raptors Prediction