The city of Cleveland has been generally a house of horrors for Toronto over the years, especially in the playoffs. Not good news for the Raptors as they head to Northeast Ohio on Saturday night for Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Cavaliers down 2-0.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

One doesn’t want to say this series is over following Toronto’s stunningly one-sided 128-110 home loss on Thursday, but …

“The Land” hasn’t been kind to the Raptors. All-time, they are 17-26 in Cleveland in regular-season action. This year, Toronto lost both games there within the span of a couple of weeks. On March 21, the Cavs won a 132-129 shootout behind 35 points and 17 assists from LeBron James. Cleveland was without a handful of injured players as well as Coach Tyronn Lue (illness). Toronto tied a franchise record with 79 first-half points and led by 15 at the break. DeMar DeRozan missed a contested 3-pointer at the buzzer and might have been fouled by James.

On April 3, the Cavs prevailed 112-106. Toronto was down 12 with under a minute left before making things somewhat interesting. Cleveland made its final four free throws with under 10 seconds left to hang on. LeBron had 27 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. DeRozan had 19, but Kyle Lowry really struggled with five points on 2-for-11 shooting.

The Raptors lost both playoff games in Cleveland last year and all three in 2016 – none of the five were close. On the updated Sports Interaction series line, the Cavs are -712 and Toronto +481.

Toronto Raptors

Losing Game 1 of this series was a surprise for Toronto considering how worn down the Cavs were from their first-round series. Many around the NBA expected Cleveland to essentially mail in Game 2 knowing it already stole a game and achieved a split. Yet, it looked like the Raptors were the ones going through the motions and tired Thursday, at least in the second half. Afterward, the company line was the team would simply have to find a way to play “harder.”

These are the playoffs, and if you aren’t playing with maximum effort you already have lost. No matter whom the Raptors stuck on LeBron or Kevin Love in Game 2, it did no good. The only two Toronto players with a positive plus/minus were Fred VanVleet (+2 in 24 minutes) and Norman Powell (+4 in three minutes). Serge Ibaka, he of the $20 million contract this season, disappeared to the tune of 0-for-5 shooting in 12 minutes. The Raptors simply don’t match up well.

Cleveland Cavaliers

James continues to astound. He was legitimately unstoppable – hitting ridiculous fadeaway after fadeaway — in the second half when Cleveland took control. LeBron finished with 43 points, 14 assists and eight rebounds. He scored or assisted on 77 points, the most in his playoff career. That’s fine, you expect excellence from James.

However, the Cavs couldn’t find anyone to slow Love, who had 31 points and 11 rebounds with a team-best rating of plus-21. Jonas Valanciunas can’t guard him because Love plays on the perimeter offensively. CJ Miles played the center at times but couldn’t deal with Love, either. The Cavs have now won eight consecutive playoff games against the Raptors.

Injuries

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

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

Injuries

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.

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.

Raptors vs. Cavaliers Game 3 Prediction