Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors Prediction, Preview and Odds - 05/01/2026

Game Time: 7:30 pm ET, Friday, May 1, 2026

Venue:  Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON

Where to Watch:  Prime Video

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Cavaliers -4.5, Raptors +4.5; Over/Under:  220.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Cavaliers -4.5, Raptors +4.5; Over/Under:  220.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Cavaliers -4.5, Raptors +4.5; Over/Under:  220.5 points

Cleveland Cavaliers:  52-30 (2nd place, Central Division)

Toronto Raptors:  46-36 (3rd place, Atlantic Division)

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Cleveland Cavaliers:  7-3 last 10

Toronto Raptors:  5-5 last 10

The Cavaliers are entering the playoffs with a 52-30 record overall this season and they were 25-16 in their road games where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Toronto Raptors. Evan Mobley and James Harden each led the team in points in that game with 23 while Donovan Mitchell and Dennis Schröder each were next on the team with 19 points. James Harden led the team in assists in that game with 5 while Evan Mobley and James Harden each led the team in rebounds with 9. They were 53.1% from the field, 50% from 3-point range, and 75% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 119.5 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 115.4 PPG against them. The Cavaliers have an ATS record of 35-52 this season and their O/U record is 43-44.

The Raptors are entering the playoffs with a 46-36 record overall this season and they were 24-17 in their home games where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers. RJ Barrett led the team in points in that game with 25 while Ja'Kobe Walter was next on the team with 20 points. Scottie Barnes led the team in assists in that game with 11 while RJ Barrett led the team in rebounds with 12. They were 46.3% from the field, 39.5% from 3-point range, and 68% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 114.6 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 111.8 PPG against them. The Raptors have an ATS record of 45-42 this season and their O/U record is 35-52.

The current betting odds have the Raptors listed as a 4.5 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Cavaliers have looked good in their games this season with their 52-30 record overall which had them in the top half of the East. They have been a good road team too with their 25-16 road record this year. Meanwhile, the Raptors have looked good in their games this season with their 46-36 record overall which had them in the top half of the East. They have looked good on their home court with their 24-17 home record this season. This is game 6 of a 7-game series between the 4 seeded Raptors and the 5 seeded Cavaliers in the East for the 1st round of the NBA playoffs. The Cavaliers are entering this game with a 3-2 series lead after winning game 5 by a score of 125-120. The Cavaliers were able to take another series lead at home and avoid a 3 game losing streak after losing both road games in this series, but they didn't look great in that win. They finally took over the game in the 4th quarter and were able to pull away late, but they were trailing the Raptors for most of that game and it looked like the Raptors were going to push the Cavaliers to the brink of elimination. The Raptors had a terrible start to this series with 2 road losses by double digits, but they answered back in both home games and now have their feel firmly planted in this series. They looked a lot better on the road in game 5 too and they have shown that they can go toe-to-toe with the Cavaliers in this series, so look for the Raptors to bring their best effort again on their home court and even up this series after almost taking the 3-2 lead in game 5. The Cavaliers have also looked more shaky in the last 3 games and even had a chance to go up 3-1 in the series with a win in game 4, but they blew a big lead in the final 3 minutes of that game and this Raptors team has shown no signs of giving up. The Raptors have looked a lot better at home in this series and this is a game they can definitely win with the way the Cavaliers have looked in the last 3 games. The best way to place a bet here is on the Raptors to cover the spread in this game. 

Cavaliers Raptors Prediction:  Our NBA Pick for Friday, May 1, 2026 (7:30 pm ET start time) is Raptors 123 Cavaliers 116.

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Cleveland Cavaliers: 16-26 ATS in road games. 25-44 ATS as a favorite. 14-24 ATS versus poor foul drawing teams - attempting 24 free throws/game or less. 10-6 UNDER after a win by 6 points or less.

Toronto Raptors: 16-6 ATS against Central division opponents. 8-4 ATS as a home underdog of 6 points or less. 11-6 ATS at home versus poor foul drawing teams - attempting 24 free throws/game or less. 19-6 UNDER revenging a same season loss vs opponent.

Cleveland Cavaliers:  None.

Toronto Raptors:  B. Ingram (SF) Day To Day - Heel. I. Quickley (PG) Out - Hamstring. 

“This was a step for us from a mental toughness point of view. I thought we showed good poise and resiliency. When you could have let your guard down, our guys kept with it.” - Kenny Atkinson after his team’s win against the Raptors in the 5th game of this series on Wednesday. 

“I would not just blame the fourth quarter. We cannot allow this team to score 125 points.” - Darko Rajakovic after his team’s loss against the Cavaliers in game 5 of this series on Wednesday. 

PG James Harden

SG Donovan Mitchell

SF Max Strus

PF Evan Mobley

C Jarrett Allen

PG Jamal Shead

SG Brandon Ingram

SF RJ Barrett

PF Scottie Barnes

C Jakob Poeltl

PPG: Donovan Mitchell (27.9)

APG: James Harden (7.7)

Reb/G: Evan Mobley (9)

PPG: Brandon Ingram (21.5)

APG: Immanuel Quickley (5.9)

Reb/G: Scottie Barnes (7.5)

Coaches:

Cleveland Cavaliers: Kenny Atkinson (2nd season)

Toronto Raptors: Darko Rajakovic (3rd season)