Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Spread: NBA Odds, Prediction
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Charlie Grant
There wasn’t much at stake the last time the Raptors played LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers and that’s why fans in Toronto didn’t dwell on the Cavs’ come-from-behind win. But now, with the Raptors clinging to a two-game lead over the Boston Celtics for top seed in the Eastern Conference standings, there is real motivation to pick up a victory on Tuesday night.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Dinos have been real Debbie Downers for sports bettors supporting the Drakes. Toronto is 0-8 against the spread in its last eight games and just 3-4 straight up in its last seven. Head coach Dwane Casey should be concerned with his team’s defensive effort over the cold streak. The Raps are allowing 116.2 points per game over their last five contests and the over is 6-2 in their last eight.
Toronto stands at 55-21 SU and 40-36 ATS on the season with a 39-36-1 over/under mark. The Raptors’ sluggish few weeks have come at the same time when the Cavaliers are starting to look the part of three-time defending Eastern Conference champions. Cleveland is 8-1 SU in its last nine games and has covered the spread in seven of its last eight contests.
The Cavs are 4-1-1 ATS in their last six games against the Raptors and the over is 5-1 in those same six matchups. Sports Interaction lists Cleveland as the favorite to win the Eastern Conference at +130 with Toronto close behind at +135.
Bettors are pretty much split on which team will cover the spread in this NBA matchup but 70 percent are backing the game go to over the 223.5-point total.
Toronto Raptors
The top seed in the Eastern Conference is still in Toronto’s hands but the schedule isn’t helping the Raps much. A loss on Tuesday to Cleveland will give the Celtics the chance to pull even with the Raptors when the two sides meet for the last time this season on Wednesday. Boston plays Milwaukee on Tuesday before traveling to Toronto for Wednesday’s game.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland continues to push on without head coach Ty Lue on the bench. Lue took a leave to deal with a health issue but did visit with his players in the locker room following the Cavaliers’ win over Dallas on Sunday.
Starting point guard George Hill and sharp-shooter Kyle Korver are both questionable to play on Tuesday against Toronto because of injury issues. Korver has been dealing with a foot injury but wasn’t with the team for the last two weeks because of a death in his family.
