The Toronto Raptors (2-2) and Cleveland Cavaliers (2-2) will meet in Game 5 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The game will broadcast live on ESPN.
The Cavaliers are 8.5-point favorites over the Raptors on the spread (Cavaliers -8.5), with the over/under set at 215.5 total points. Cleveland is a -400 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Toronto is +315 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Raptors vs. Cavaliers predictions and NBA picks for Game 5 on Wednesday, April 29.
Raptors vs Cavaliers Prediction
- Raptors vs Cavaliers pick: Cavaliers -8.5 (-118)
My Cavaliers vs. Raptors Game 5 best bet is on Cleveland to cover the spread. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Raptors vs Cavaliers Odds for Game 5
| Raptors Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+8.5 -104 | 215.5 -114o / -106u | +315 |
| Cavaliers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-8.5 -118 | 215.5 -114o / -106u | -400 |
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Raptors vs Cavaliers NBA Playoffs Game 5 Preview
Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Preview, Analysis
We’ve got Raptors vs. Cavs Game 5 tonight, and the series is knotted up at two apiece.
If you’ve been following this matchup, there’s one trend that’s been screaming at us from the jump: the home team has won and covered in all four games so far.
The Cavaliers handled business in Games 1 and 2, Toronto did the same in 3 and 4—and now we’re headed back to Cleveland for Game 5.
The total is sitting at 215.5, and honestly, there is another "under" that is blinking like a neon light in my face. These teams are grinding each other into the dirt.
I’m half-tempted to just parlay the Cavaliers spread with the under—either I’m seeing this whole series perfectly or I’m completely lost. But for my official play, I'm backing Cleveland -8.5.
Toronto Raptors Betting Preview, Analysis
Here is the truth about Game 4: Cleveland was cruising. They really were. If you look closely at the tape, the Cavs outplayed Toronto for about 90% of last game. But then, we got the typical James Harden meltdown that just cut them off at the knees.
Harden finished with seven turnovers in Game 4, and doing that in a place like Scotiabank Arena is a death sentence. I’ve heard guys all over the league that say there isn't a building in the NBA more deafening than that one in Toronto. It’s a hostile environment, and when you start coughing up the ball in a game played in the 80s—where every single possession feels like a heavyweight round—you’re asking for trouble.
The Cavs led by seven with just three minutes left to play in that game. They were in total control. Then, the wheels didn't just come off; the whole car broke down and went up into flames.
Cleveland scored exactly five points the rest of the way. That is very uncharacteristic of an offense this talented. The Cavs have Donovan Mitchell out there with Harden, and the team went a combined 2-of-9 from the field in the final three minutes.
Raptors vs Cavaliers Pick, Betting Analysis
When you dig into the box score, the regression signals ahead of Game 5 are all over the place.
The Cavs turned the ball over 18 times, and the Raptors were opportunistic enough to score 17 points off those mistakes. Then, you look at the charity stripe—Toronto finished +12 at the free-throw line in Game 4.
You combine a massive turnover disparity with a double-digit gap in free-throw attempts, and it’s a miracle the game was even as close as it was.
Coming back to Cleveland, I expect all of that to flip. The nerves that led to those 18 turnovers usually settle when you’re back in your own locker room. The officiating usually balances out—and that scoring drought? You aren’t going to see Mitchell and Harden go 2-of-9 in crunch time at home tonight.
The Cavaliers are the better team, they have the better depth, and they have the home-court hammer that has defined this series. This is a get-right spot for the Cavs' backcourt. I expect to see Cleveland pull away late in Game 5.
Toronto’s grit kept them alive at home, but I think the Raptors hit a wall tonight. Lay the points and watch the Cavs take control of this series.
Pick: Cavaliers -8.5 (-118)
