The Toronto Raptors comfortably hold the first play-in tournament spot in the Eastern Conference, but a win against Cleveland on Sunday would be huge as they trail the Cavaliers by two games in the standings.  Both teams have been off since Friday.  Toronto picked up their second loss in a row, falling 103-97 to Orlando at home.  The Cavs dropped a 125-119 decision in Philadelphia.

Cleveland is a 4.5-point favourite to win on the NBA odds, with a total of 212.0.

Raptors vs. Cavaliers NBA Betting Odds

This is the third of four meetings between the teams this season.  Cleveland snuck by the Dino’s 102-101 on Nov. 5, before blowing out the Raptors 144-99 on Boxing Day.  The season series wraps up March 24 in Toronto.

One positive the Raps can take away from a subpar 3-6 straight up record over the last nine games, is the team behind them in the standings, Brooklyn, and the team ahead of them, Cleveland, haven’t been any better.  They’re 34-28-1 against the spread for the season, but they’ve failed to cover in five of the last six games.  Toronto has trended toward low scoring contests lately, with the total going Under in seven of their last nine games.

Cleveland is hitting a wall as they come into this contest with three straight losses and just one win in their last seven games.  They’re 36-25-2 ATS overall, but they’re just 1-6 ATS in their last seven games.  The total has gone Under in nine of the Cavaliers’ last 10 home games.

Toronto Raptors

It’s been a rough couple of nights for the Raptors as they fell to the two worst teams in the Eastern Conference, Detroit and Orlando, in back-to-back games.  Seven different Orlando players scored in double figures against Toronto, despite the team shooting just 37.9 per cent from the field.  The Dinos’ shooting wasn’t much better, as they connected on 39.8 per cent of field-goal attempts.  Pascal Siakam finished with a game-high 34 points and 14 rebounds, while Malachi Flynn, who started the game in place of Fred VanVleet, added a season-high 20 points and eight assists.  Gary Trent Jr. only managed four points and missed all nine of his 3-point attempts.  Trent has only connected on six of his last 69 shots from beyond the arc.

VanVleet is dealing with left knee soreness and is listed as questionable on Sunday.  Flynn is also listed as questionable due to a left hamstring strain.  OG Anunoby (fractured finger) will not play.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Four different Cleveland players finished with at least 20 points on Friday, but it ultimately wasn’t enough as the Cavs dropped a third straight game.  Darius Garland had a team-high 26 points and finished with a monstrous 19 assists.  He joined LeBron James and Andre Miller as the only players in Cavs franchise history to record multiple 25-point, 15-assist games in the same season.  Isaac Okoro added 22 points, while Jarrett Allen and Cedi Osman each put up 20.  Kevin Love had 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

Rajon Rondo (toe sprain) and Caris LeVert (foot sprain) are both listed as doubtful to play.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Raptors vs. Cavaliers?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Raptors Team Leaders

TOR

Points	Pascal Siakam 22.81
Assists	Fred VanVleet 6.68
Rebounds	Pascal Siakam 8.53
FG%	D.J. Wilson 73.3
Steals	Gary Trent Jr. 1.74
Blocks	Chris Boucher 0.94

CLE

Points	Darius Garland 21.66
Assists	Darius Garland 8.57
Rebounds	Jarrett Allen 10.75
FG%	Ed Davis 68.8
Steals	Darius Garland 1.31
Blocks	Evan Mobley 1.67

TOR

Points	Pascal Siakam 22.83
Assists	Fred VanVleet 6.25
Rebounds	Scottie Barnes 9
FG%	Dalano Banton 100
Steals	Fred VanVleet 1.75
Blocks	Chris Boucher 1.17

CLE

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Cavaliers Team Leaders

TOR

Points	Pascal Siakam 22.81
Assists	Fred VanVleet 6.68
Rebounds	Pascal Siakam 8.53
FG%	D.J. Wilson 73.3
Steals	Gary Trent Jr. 1.74
Blocks	Chris Boucher 0.94

CLE

Points	Darius Garland 21.66
Assists	Darius Garland 8.57
Rebounds	Jarrett Allen 10.75
FG%	Ed Davis 68.8
Steals	Darius Garland 1.31
Blocks	Evan Mobley 1.67

TOR

Points	Pascal Siakam 22.83
Assists	Fred VanVleet 6.25
Rebounds	Scottie Barnes 9
FG%	Dalano Banton 100
Steals	Fred VanVleet 1.75
Blocks	Chris Boucher 1.17

CLE

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

Injuries

Toronto

Gary Trent Jr. (SG)

Prob Wed Illness - 17 / 04 / 22

Khem Birch (C)

Ques Mon Head - 16 / 04 / 22

Thaddeus Young (PF)

Prob Mon Thumb - 16 / 04 / 22

Pascal Siakam (PF)

Out Sun Rest - 10 / 04 / 22

Juwan Morgan (PF)

Out indefinitely Illness - 05 / 04 / 22

OG Anunoby (SF)

Prob Sun Quadricep - 03 / 04 / 22

Isaac Bonga (SG)

Ques Sun Toe - 03 / 04 / 22

Yuta Watanabe (SG)

Out Fri Quadricep - 31 / 03 / 22

Khem Birch (C)

Prob Wed Knee - 28 / 03 / 22

Gary Trent Jr. (SG)

Prob Mon Toe - 21 / 03 / 22

Cleveland

RJ Nembhard (PG)

Prob Mon Illness - 27 / 03 / 22

Dean Wade (SF)

out for season Knee - 13 / 03 / 22

Lauri Markkanen (PF)

Prob Mon Ankle - 12 / 03 / 22

Rajon Rondo (PG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 12 / 03 / 22

Rajon Rondo (PG)

Prob Tues Toe - 25 / 02 / 22

Caris LeVert (SG)

Prob Mon Foot - 23 / 02 / 22

Brandon Goodwin (PG)

Prob Wed Illness - 09 / 02 / 22

Darius Garland (PG)

Prob Wed Back - 31 / 01 / 22

Jarrett Allen (C)

Ques Wed Illness - 24 / 01 / 22

Lauri Markkanen (PF)

Prob Thurs Ankle - 22 / 01 / 22

Injuries

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Gary Trent Jr. (SG)	Prob Wed	Illness - 17 / 04 / 22	2-3	1-4	+ -
Trent Jr. is battling a non-COVID illness, but it is projected that he will take on the 76ers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Khem Birch (C)	Ques Mon	Head - 16 / 04 / 22	2-4	1-5	+ -
Birch is tending to a head injury, and it is unknown if he will battle the 76ers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Thaddeus Young (PF)	Prob Mon	Thumb - 16 / 04 / 22	2-4	1-5	+ -
Young is bothered by a hyperextended left thumb, but it is expected that he will be active for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round against the 76ers.
Pascal Siakam (PF)	Out Sun	Rest - 10 / 04 / 22	2-5	2-5	+ -
Siakam will not dress for Sunday's matchup versus the Knicks as he will be given a day of rest.
Juwan Morgan (PF)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 05 / 04 / 22	4-6	4-6	+ -
Morgan is going trough the league's health and safety protocols, and it is unclear when he will return to the court.
OG Anunoby (SF)	Prob Sun	Quadricep - 03 / 04 / 22	5-6	4-7	+ -
Anunoby has sat out the previous four games with a right quad contusion, but it is expected that he will participate in Sunday's clash versus the Knicks.
Isaac Bonga (SG)	Ques Sun	Toe - 03 / 04 / 22	5-6	4-7	+ -
Bonga has been held out of the last four contests with a sprained right big toe, and it is undecided if he will play against the Knicks on Sunday.
Yuta Watanabe (SG)	Out Fri	Quadricep - 31 / 03 / 22	6-6	4-8	+ -
Watanabe has sat out the last four games with a sore left quad, and he will not face the Rockets on Friday.
Khem Birch (C)	Prob Wed	Knee - 28 / 03 / 22	7-7	5-9	+ -
Birch sat out the last contest tending to a swollen right knee, but it is projected that he will battle the Timberwolves on Wednesday.
Gary Trent Jr. (SG)	Prob Mon	Toe - 21 / 03 / 22	9-9	7-11	+ -
Trent Jr. has sat out the last three contests with a left big toe hyperextension, but it is anticipated that he will be available to battle the Celtics on Monday.

Cleveland

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
RJ Nembhard (PG)	Prob Mon	Illness - 27 / 03 / 22	3-6	5-4	+ -
Nembhard is managing a non-COVID illness, but he is expected to take the court for Monday's battle with the Magic.
Dean Wade (SF)	out for season	Knee - 13 / 03 / 22	5-11	12-5	+ -
Wade is sidelined for the remainder of the 2021-22 season after having surgery to repair a right torn meniscus.
Lauri Markkanen (PF)	Prob Mon	Ankle - 12 / 03 / 22	6-11	13-5	+ -
Markkanen sat out the last game with a sore right ankle, but it is likely that he will suit up Monday versus the Clippers.
Rajon Rondo (PG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 12 / 03 / 22	6-11	13-5	+ -
Rondo has been idle due to a right ankle sprain, abut he is expected to face the 76ers on Sunday.
Rajon Rondo (PG)	Prob Tues	Toe - 25 / 02 / 22	8-15	15-8-1	+ -
Rondo has been out of the lineup with a right big toe sprain, but he is likely to take on the Pacers on Tuesday.
Caris LeVert (SG)	Prob Mon	Foot - 23 / 02 / 22	8-16	16-8-1	+ -
LeVert has been out of action due to a right foot sprain, but he is expected to return to the court for Monday's clash with the Clippers.
Brandon Goodwin (PG)	Prob Wed	Illness - 09 / 02 / 22	11-17	17-11-1	+ -
Goodwin is ailing from an illness, but it is anticipated that he will suit up against the Spurs on Wednesday.
Darius Garland (PG)	Prob Wed	Back - 31 / 01 / 22	12-20	19-13-1	+ -
Garland has sat out the last four contests with lower-back soreness, but it is projected that he will be available for Wednesday's clash versus the Spurs.
Jarrett Allen (C)	Ques Wed	Illness - 24 / 01 / 22	13-22	19-16-1	+ -
Allen sat out the last contest due to an illness, and it is undecided if he will face the Bucks on Wednesday.
Lauri Markkanen (PF)	Prob Thurs	Ankle - 22 / 01 / 22	13-23	20-16-1	+ -
Markkanen has been sidelined with a high right ankle sprain, but it is anticipated that he will return for Thursday's matchup versus the Pistons.