Raptors vs. Cavaliers Prediction: NBA Odds, Point Spread
The NBA odds will depend on Kyle Lowry and some Cleveland injuries.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
If the Raptors hope to make the playoffs or even the play-in tournament (not looking great), they can’t lose to bad/tanking teams like the Cavaliers, even on the road or in the front end of a back-to-back as this is for Toronto. The teams play once more April 26 in Tampa, Fla.
On March 21 in Cleveland, the Raptors were knocked off 116-105 for their eighth straight loss at the time. Collin Sexton, the Cavs’ terrific young guard, had 36 points. Sexton said he got fired up – scoring 23 of his points in the second half – after a bit of a dust-up with Norman Powell at the end of the first half in which both players got technical fouls. Jarrett Allen added 17 points and 15 rebounds. Fred VanVleet had 23 points and seven assists for Toronto, while Kyle Lowry and Powell (now with Blazers) each scored 18 points.
The Raptors are 5-13-1 against the spread in the past 19 meetings. The over is 5-1 in the previous six.
Toronto Raptors
Toronto will remain without Fred VanVleet and Rodney Hood for this one and likely Kyle Lowry, too, although he has been upgraded to questionable. All three are hurt, but VanVleet also will have to serve a one-game suspension whenever he is medically cleared (hasn’t been yet). He left the bench during a scuffle in Tuesday’s game vs. the Lakers and got that one-game penalty as did DeAndre’ Bembry. He served his suspension Thursday as the Dinos were dominated in a 122-113 loss in Tampa, Fla., to Chicago.
Chris Boucher had the game of his career and made a case to be starting from this point on with 38 points and 19 rebounds; Toronto was plus-16 when he was on the court. Pascal Siakam had 27 points and eight rebounds, but no one else helped much. The other three starters – OG Anunoby, Malachi Flynn and Gary Trent Jr. – combined to shoot 10-for-42. Here, Toronto looks to end a seven-game ATS road losing streak.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland, which will be lottery-bound yet again, has won two straight (both on the road) following a five-game skid. In fact, it’s only the second time in franchise history the team has won back-to-back road games by at least 20 points each. The Cavs won at the extremely short-handed Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, 129-102. Collin Sexton had 27 points, backcourt mate Darius Garland 21, Kevin Love 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Taurean Prince 22 off the bench.
Two of the team’s big men, Jarrett Allen and Larry Nance Jr., were out due to injury/illness and they are questionable (probably more toward doubtful) for Saturday. Consider a prop bet on Sexton here as he has scored at least 20 points in five straight vs. the Dinos. Cleveland is 4-0 ATS in its past four vs. teams with a losing record.
TOR
CLE