The Toronto Raptors are banged-up and struggling – but neither of those things should be a factor Friday night as they host the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers at Scotiabank Arena.
The Raptors are just 3-4 over their past seven games, and were fortunate to pull out a 99-96 win against Indiana last time out, limiting the Pacers to 11 fourth-quarter points. But Toronto is a double-digit fave against the visiting Cavs, who boast the third-worst record in the East.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 20 Dec 9:52pm | CLE | -12.5 -110 | O +206 -110 |
| Closing 21 Dec 10:57pm | CLE | -12 -110 | O +210.5 -110 |
Being this big a favourite hasn’t agreed with the Raptors, at least from a covers standpoint. Toronto is just 2-7-1 ATS in its previous 10 games when giving 10 or more points away, with two of those spread losses coming at the hands of the Cavaliers. That’s part of a larger trend that has worked exclusively in Cleveland’s favour: It’s a red-hot 7-1 ATS in the last eight meetings, and 7-1-1 ATS in the previous nine games played in Toronto.
As for the total, which is set at 209.5, bettors will need to decide whether to put faith in each team’s recent individual trends, or in the outcome of their head-to-head encounters. Both teams are skewing toward the under, with the Cavaliers having gone below the total in four consecutive road games and the Raptors rocking a 2-8 O/U mark in their last 10 at home. But the teams have gone over the number in each of their last five meetings.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Part of the Cavaliers’ problem has been a lack of competent defence, with Cleveland allowing opponents to shoot a league-high 48.3 percent from the field. And those problems extend beyond the arc, with foes connecting from 3-point range at a 36.4-percent clip (ranking 24th overall). On offence, the lack of an established distributor is apparent: Cleveland averages 20 assists per game (29th), with no player posting more than 3.2 helpers per game.
Toronto Raptors
Friday’s game represents a great time for the Raptors to take it slow with some of their injured players. Point guard Kyle Lowry (thigh) has already been ruled out, while Serge Ibaka (knee) is questionable but is expected to see some action. And while Toronto is expected to romp, it would behoove the team to keep its foot on the gas, having gone just 2-8-1 ATS in its previous 11 games against teams below .400 on the season.
Injuries
Kevin Love (PF)
Tristan Thompson (C)
Tristan Thompson (C)
Tristan Thompson (C)
Kevin Love (PF)
Kevin Love (PF)
Kevin Love (PF)
Marquese Chriss (PF)
Kevin Love (PF)
Larry Nance Jr. (PF)
Fred VanVleet (PG)
Patrick McCaw (SG)
Pascal Siakam (PF)
Jeremy Lin (PG)
Chris Boucher (PF)
Chris Boucher (PF)
Serge Ibaka (C)
Danny Green (SG)
Danny Green (SG)
Patrick McCaw (SG)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Love (PF) | Out Tues | Rest - 08 / 04 / 19 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Love will not be in Tuesday's lineup versus the Hornets as he will be rested. |
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| Tristan Thompson (C) | Out Tues | Rest - 08 / 04 / 19 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Thompson will receive a day of rest and is unlikely to face the Hornets on Tuesday. |
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| Tristan Thompson (C) | Prob Fri | Rest - 05 / 04 / 19 | 1-3 | 2-2 | + - |
|
Thompson sat out the previous game to rest but is expected to take the court against the Warriors on Friday. |
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| Tristan Thompson (C) | Out Thurs | Rest - 04 / 04 / 19 | 1-3 | 2-2 | + - |
|
Thompson will not suit up against the Kings on Thursday due to a day of rest. |
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| Kevin Love (PF) | Prob Sun | Shoulder - 30 / 03 / 19 | 2-4 | 4-2 | + - |
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Love has missed the last three games with left shoulder soreness but will likely play Sunday against the Spurs. |
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| Kevin Love (PF) | Prob Fri | Head - 20 / 03 / 19 | 5-6 | 7-4 | + - |
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Love left the last game due to a head injury but is projected to play Friday against the Clippers. |
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| Kevin Love (PF) | Prob Wed | Back - 17 / 03 / 19 | 5-7 | 8-5 | + - |
|
Love was absent from the lineup during the previous game due to a lower-back contusion but is expected to take part in Wednesday's clash against the Bucks. |
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| Marquese Chriss (PF) | Elig Thurs | Suspension - 12 / 03 / 19 | 7-7 | 9-6 | + - |
|
Chriss has been suspended one game due to his involvement in an on-court altercation with an opponent. He is expected to be reinstated in time for Thursday's contest against the Magic. |
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| Kevin Love (PF) | Out Tues | Rest - 11 / 03 / 19 | 7-8 | 10-6 | + - |
|
Love will not be in Tuesday's lineup against the 76ers as he will be rested. |
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| Larry Nance Jr. (PF) | Prob Wed | Ribs - 08 / 03 / 19 | 8-8 | 10-7 | + - |
|
Nance Jr. sat out his fifth-straight game with a rib contusion but is likely to rejoin the lineup against the Bucks on Wednesday. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred VanVleet (PG) | Prob Mon | Face - 08 / 06 / 19 | 2-0 | 1-2 | + - |
|
VanVleet sustained a facial laceration and chipped tooth in the previous game but is expected to suit up for Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors. |
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| Patrick McCaw (SG) | Prob Thurs | Personal - 15 / 05 / 19 | 7-4 | 6-6 | + - |
|
McCaw has been tending to a personal matter, but he is likely to return for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors. |
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| Pascal Siakam (PF) | Prob Sun | Calf - 04 / 05 / 19 | 9-6 | 8-8 | + - |
|
Siakam is expected to play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference second round against the 76ers despite a right calf contusion. |
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| Jeremy Lin (PG) | Prob Tues | Back - 02 / 05 / 19 | 9-7 | 8-9 | + - |
|
Lin is battling back spasms but is expected to suit up against the 76ers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference second round. |
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| Chris Boucher (PF) | Prob Wed | Back - 01 / 05 / 19 | 9-7 | 8-9 | + - |
|
Boucher is dealing with back spasms but it is likely he will play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Bucks. |
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| Chris Boucher (PF) | Ques Mon | Back - 18 / 04 / 19 | 13-8 | 9-13 | + - |
|
Boucher is dealing with back spasms and it is unclear if he will be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second round against the 76ers. |
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| Serge Ibaka (C) | Out Tues | Rest - 09 / 04 / 19 | 15-9 | 10-15 | + - |
|
Ibaka will not suit up against the Timberwolves on Tuesday as he is to be rested. |
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| Danny Green (SG) | Prob Tues | Ankle - 07 / 04 / 19 | 15-10 | 10-15-1 | + - |
|
Green tweaked his ankle in the last game but it is anticipated that he will play against the Timberwolves on Tuesday. |
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| Danny Green (SG) | Prob Wed | Thumb - 01 / 04 / 19 | 18-10 | 12-16-1 | + - |
|
Green jammed his left thumb during the last game but it is unlikely to deter him from being available against the Nets on Wednesday. |
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| Patrick McCaw (SG) | Prob Fri | Thumb - 30 / 03 / 19 | 19-10 | 12-17-1 | + - |
|
McCaw has been debilitated with a sprained right thumb but will likely return to action against the Magic in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round. |
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Cavaliers vs. Raptors Prediction
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Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 20 Dec 9:52pm CLE -12.5 -110 O +206 -110 Closing 21 Dec 10:57pm CLE -12 -110 O +210.5 -110 -
Injuries
Kevin Love (PF)
Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 19Tristan Thompson (C)
Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 19Tristan Thompson (C)
Prob Fri Rest - 05 / 04 / 19Tristan Thompson (C)
Out Thurs Rest - 04 / 04 / 19Kevin Love (PF)
Prob Sun Shoulder - 30 / 03 / 19Kevin Love (PF)
Prob Fri Head - 20 / 03 / 19Kevin Love (PF)
Prob Wed Back - 17 / 03 / 19Marquese Chriss (PF)
Elig Thurs Suspension - 12 / 03 / 19Kevin Love (PF)
Out Tues Rest - 11 / 03 / 19Larry Nance Jr. (PF)
Prob Wed Ribs - 08 / 03 / 19Fred VanVleet (PG)
Prob Mon Face - 08 / 06 / 19Patrick McCaw (SG)
Prob Thurs Personal - 15 / 05 / 19Pascal Siakam (PF)
Prob Sun Calf - 04 / 05 / 19Jeremy Lin (PG)
Prob Tues Back - 02 / 05 / 19Chris Boucher (PF)
Prob Wed Back - 01 / 05 / 19Chris Boucher (PF)
Ques Mon Back - 18 / 04 / 19Serge Ibaka (C)
Out Tues Rest - 09 / 04 / 19Danny Green (SG)
Prob Tues Ankle - 07 / 04 / 19Danny Green (SG)
Prob Wed Thumb - 01 / 04 / 19Patrick McCaw (SG)
Prob Fri Thumb - 30 / 03 / 19Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Kevin Love (PF) Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 19 0-1 0-1 + - Love will not be in Tuesday's lineup versus the Hornets as he will be rested.
Tristan Thompson (C) Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 19 0-1 0-1 + - Thompson will receive a day of rest and is unlikely to face the Hornets on Tuesday.
Tristan Thompson (C) Prob Fri Rest - 05 / 04 / 19 1-3 2-2 + - Thompson sat out the previous game to rest but is expected to take the court against the Warriors on Friday.
Tristan Thompson (C) Out Thurs Rest - 04 / 04 / 19 1-3 2-2 + - Thompson will not suit up against the Kings on Thursday due to a day of rest.
Kevin Love (PF) Prob Sun Shoulder - 30 / 03 / 19 2-4 4-2 + - Love has missed the last three games with left shoulder soreness but will likely play Sunday against the Spurs.
Kevin Love (PF) Prob Fri Head - 20 / 03 / 19 5-6 7-4 + - Love left the last game due to a head injury but is projected to play Friday against the Clippers.
Kevin Love (PF) Prob Wed Back - 17 / 03 / 19 5-7 8-5 + - Love was absent from the lineup during the previous game due to a lower-back contusion but is expected to take part in Wednesday's clash against the Bucks.
Marquese Chriss (PF) Elig Thurs Suspension - 12 / 03 / 19 7-7 9-6 + - Chriss has been suspended one game due to his involvement in an on-court altercation with an opponent. He is expected to be reinstated in time for Thursday's contest against the Magic.
Kevin Love (PF) Out Tues Rest - 11 / 03 / 19 7-8 10-6 + - Love will not be in Tuesday's lineup against the 76ers as he will be rested.
Larry Nance Jr. (PF) Prob Wed Ribs - 08 / 03 / 19 8-8 10-7 + - Nance Jr. sat out his fifth-straight game with a rib contusion but is likely to rejoin the lineup against the Bucks on Wednesday.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Fred VanVleet (PG) Prob Mon Face - 08 / 06 / 19 2-0 1-2 + - VanVleet sustained a facial laceration and chipped tooth in the previous game but is expected to suit up for Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors.
Patrick McCaw (SG) Prob Thurs Personal - 15 / 05 / 19 7-4 6-6 + - McCaw has been tending to a personal matter, but he is likely to return for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors.
Pascal Siakam (PF) Prob Sun Calf - 04 / 05 / 19 9-6 8-8 + - Siakam is expected to play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference second round against the 76ers despite a right calf contusion.
Jeremy Lin (PG) Prob Tues Back - 02 / 05 / 19 9-7 8-9 + - Lin is battling back spasms but is expected to suit up against the 76ers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference second round.
Chris Boucher (PF) Prob Wed Back - 01 / 05 / 19 9-7 8-9 + - Boucher is dealing with back spasms but it is likely he will play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Bucks.
Chris Boucher (PF) Ques Mon Back - 18 / 04 / 19 13-8 9-13 + - Boucher is dealing with back spasms and it is unclear if he will be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second round against the 76ers.
Serge Ibaka (C) Out Tues Rest - 09 / 04 / 19 15-9 10-15 + - Ibaka will not suit up against the Timberwolves on Tuesday as he is to be rested.
Danny Green (SG) Prob Tues Ankle - 07 / 04 / 19 15-10 10-15-1 + - Green tweaked his ankle in the last game but it is anticipated that he will play against the Timberwolves on Tuesday.
Danny Green (SG) Prob Wed Thumb - 01 / 04 / 19 18-10 12-16-1 + - Green jammed his left thumb during the last game but it is unlikely to deter him from being available against the Nets on Wednesday.
Patrick McCaw (SG) Prob Fri Thumb - 30 / 03 / 19 19-10 12-17-1 + - McCaw has been debilitated with a sprained right thumb but will likely return to action against the Magic in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.