Game Time: 7:40 PM ET, Thursday, March 24th, 2022 

Venue:  Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Canada

Where to Watch: NBA League Pass

DraftKings:  Spread:  Toronto -3.5; O/U 215

Fanduel:  Spread:  Toronto -4; O/U 215.5

BetMGM:  Spread: Toronto -3.5; O/U 215.5

Cavaliers: 41-31, 6th place Eastern Conference

Raptors: 40-32, 7th place Eastern Conference

An NBA Eastern Conference matchup.  With nearly identical records this is a very important game!  The Cavaliers sit at 6th place in the standings… The Raptors sit at 7th place in the standings.  With only 10-12 games left for every team in the league…. This battle could determine which of these teams has to risk it all in an NBA “play-in” game against the Atlanta Hawks or the Charlotte Hornets.  I’ll admit that neither of those teams strike fear in the hearts of anyone outside of the Brooklyn Nets and their uncertain future… but both those teams have young, dynamic, point guards that could take your playoff spot with a simple single game win.  The Play-in tournament is a very welcome addition to the playoff seedings.. It adds uncertainty to any team that wishes to coast just because they think they will be able to sneak into the Playoffs.  It also adds uncertainty to the top four teams about which team they should be preparing for… It literally could be anyone from the middle of the pack… If that middle of the pack team just happens to be jelling or getting someone back from injury at the right time… The resulting struggle could be mightily embarrassing for a top tier team.  It’s all fun and games.  The betting opportunity here is in the most likely very close point spread.  It’s almost certain that if you think you know the winner then you will also know who will cover the spread. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers have won only 5 of their last ten games.  They also went 5-4-1 ATS.  They became a pedestrian team the moment C Jarrett Allen, an all-star, hit the injury list with a finger injury.  The frontline of Allen and Evan Mobley had been all the difference this season.  As center and power forward combos go… They were close to the best.  Jarret Allen hosts a block party in the key every night he plays and Evan Mobley is a gifted rookie that can do a bit of everything.   Without Allen the team has moved Evanb Mobley to the Center spot and inserted Lauri Makkanen in to the starting power forward spot.  The results are disastrous.  Mobley is stretched too thin.. And for all he does on the offensive end, Lauri Makkanen can’t stop much on the defensive end.  Thaty leaves PG and team leader Darius Garland hung out to dry… Darius is having a big season… a future max contract earning season… a first time all-star season… but without that defensive punch down low he is really just trading baskets with the other team until he wears out.  My Cleveland connection keeps pointing out how next season Darius Garland will be playing side by side with PG Collin Sexton (who has missed this entire season)... who is also a 20 point a game scorer.  They anticipate literally being the best team in the East if everything holds and Collin returns ready to play at the level he left.  None of that helps them right now.

The Toronto Raptors have won 6 of their last ten games.  They went 6-4 ATS during that stretch.  The team is still recovering from a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.  The Lakers stink and everyone has been beating them… and the Raptors gave up 36 to LeBron and couldn’t overcome it in overtime.  But that was two games ago… They have gone 1-1 since dropping another game to the Chicago Bulls in their last time on the court.  The Raptors are good… the Raptors are young… The Raptors have no legitimate Center.  At Center the Raptors rotate several power forwards with a single strength but limited skills everywhere else.  For the Raptors to succeed next season they will have to drop two of these players:  Khem Birch, Chris Boucher, Precious Anchiuwa, and Thaddeus Young… None of them are needed since Pascal Siakam holds down the power forward spot at 22 ppg, 8.3 rpg…. Also rookie Scottie Barnes can legitimately play 4 positions and perform at a high level (this is his team, he is the star)... The Raptors need a legit Center… squared.  How does this affect this game?... well neither team will be playing an actual Center… So it is guard vs guard and forward vs forward to find out where to put our $$$ in order to double it minus the vig.

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The Cavs are 41-31 on the season, but 39-30-3 ATS.  They have logged 31 Overs, 40 Unders, and 1 Push.  They are 18-18 in road games.

The Raptors are 40-32 on the season, but 41-31 ATS.  They have notched 36 Overs and 36 Unders… they are an O/U coin flip!... They are 17-16 in home games.

The Cavs are 23rd in scoring with 107.4 ppg, 15th in rebounds with 44.5 per game, and 19th in AST/To ratio with 1.7. On defense they rank 3rd while holding teams to 104.6 ppg.  That is a great defensive ranking. But it is held over from Jarrett Allen blocking all those shots… He is unavailable,

The Raptors are 19th in scoring with 108.7 ppg, 10th in rebounds with 45.4 per game, and 19th in AST/TO ratio with 1.7.  On defense they rank 10th while holding opponents to 107.3 ppg.

Our prediction for Thursday, March 24th is…. Raptors 118 - Cavaliers 112

The Raptors have the best cadre of athletes given that Jarret Allen will miss the game. The Darius Garland effect only seems to work when there is a baseline stopper.  Without Allen the Cavs are rudderless.

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(will update later tonight when numbers settle)

Cavs: C Jarrett Allen (finger) Out ** PG Collin Sexton (knee) Out all season.

Raptors: SF OG Anunoby (finger) Out ** SG Gary Trent JR (toe) Quest

Cavs: SF Lamar Stevens, PF Lauri Markkanen, C Evan Mobley, PG Darius Garland, SG Isaac Okoro

Raptors: SF Precious Achiuwa, PF Pascal Siakam, C Khem Birch, PG Fred VanVleet, SG Scottie Barnes

Cavaliers

Points: Darius Garland 21.4

Assists: Darius Garland 8.6

Rebounds: Jarrett Allen 10.8

Steals: Ricky Rubio 1.4

Blocks: Evan Mobley 1.7

Raptors

Points: Pascal Siakam 22

Assists: Fred VanVleet 6.8

Rebounds: Pascal Siakam 8.3

Steals: Gary Trent Jr 1.8

Blocks: Chris Boucher 1.0

Coaches

Cavs: JB Bickerstaff

Raptors: Nick Nurse