Toronto Raptors vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction, Preview and Odds - 04/18/2026

Game Time: 1:00 pm ET, Saturday, April 18, 2026

Venue:  Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH

Where to Watch:  Prime Video

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Raptors +8.5, Cavaliers -8.5; Over/Under:  218.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Raptors +8.5, Cavaliers -8.5; Over/Under:  218.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Raptors +8.5, Cavaliers -8.5; Over/Under:  218.5 points

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

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

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Toronto Raptors:  6-4 last 10

Cleveland Cavaliers:  7-3 last 10

The Raptors are entering the playoffs with a 46-36 record overall this season and they were 22-19 in their road games where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Brooklyn Nets. RJ Barrett led the team in points in that game with 26 while Brandon Ingram was next on the team with 25 points. Scottie Barnes led the team in assists in that game with 12 while Scottie Barnes led the team in rebounds with 12. They were 63.7% from the field, 44.4% from 3-point range, and 75.9% 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 42-40 this season and their O/U record is 32-50.

The Cavaliers are entering the playoffs with a 52-30 record overall this season and they were 27-14 in their home games where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Washington Wizards. Nae'Qwan Tomlin led the team in points in that game with 26 while Tyrese Proctor was next on the team with 22 points. Tyrese Proctor led the team in assists in that game with 8 while Tyrese Proctor led the team in rebounds with 11. They were 53.9% from the field, 41.9% from 3-point range, and 76.2% 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 33-49 this season and their O/U record is 40-42.

The current betting odds have the Cavaliers listed as an 8.5 point favorite 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 looked great on their home court too with their 27-14 home record this season. 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 been a good road team too with their 22-19 road record this year. This is the 1st game 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 Raptors are off a win over the Nets in their final game of the regular season and they have looked good lately. They are 6-4 in their last 10 games as they were fighting for seeding in the East, but they haven't really been able to hold their own against top teams in the NBA this year. They have had a lot of trouble all year against the elite teams in the league and even though the Cavs had a really rough start to the season, they have rounded themselves into a true contender. The Cavaliers were also fighting for seeding in the last week of the season so they also have some momentum coming into this series. They are off a win over the Wizards in their last one and they are 7-3 in their last 10 games too. The Cavaliers are going to be looking to make a statement in this 1st game after failing as the number 1 seed in the East last season, so look for them to flex their muscles in this one. The best way to place a bet here is on the Cavaliers to cover the spread in this game. 

Raptors Cavaliers Prediction:  Our NBA Pick for Saturday, April 18, 2026 (1:00 pm ET start time) is Cavaliers 122 Raptors 110.

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Toronto Raptors: 13-4 ATS against Central division opponents. 3-1 ATS off a win against a division rival. 31-22 ATS on the road versus good offensive teams - scoring 116+ points/game. 15-7 UNDER as a road underdog. 14-5 UNDER when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 70%).

Cleveland Cavaliers: 5-10 ATS against Atlantic division opponents. 5-11 ATS as a home favorite of 6.5 to 12 points. 12-21 ATS versus poor foul drawing teams - attempting 24 free throws/game or less. 24-17 UNDER in home games. 16-10 UNDER off a home win.

Toronto Raptors:  I. Quickley (PG) Day To Day - Hamstring. C. Hepburn (PG) Day To Day - Knee.

Cleveland Cavaliers:  D. Schroder (PG) Day To Day - Rest. J. Harden (PG) Day To Day - Rest. D. Wade (PF) Day To Day - Ankle. K. Ellis (SG) Day To Day - Knee. E. Mobley (PF) Day To Day - Calf. J. Allen (C) Day To Day - Injury Management. S. Merrill (SG) Day To Day - Hamstring. D. Mitchell (SG) Day To Day - Ankle. T. Bryant (C) Day To Day - Calf.

“It’s hard to put it in words. He had a triple-double in the third quarter there. From assists, playmaking, rebounding, blocking shots, defending, you name it. I think he’s slowly but surely growing into an all-around player offensively and defensively.” - Darko Rajakovic on Scottie Barnes after his team’s win against the Nets in their regular season finale on Sunday. 

"Toronto, we know, that's no picnic; they low-key dominated us in the games we played them this year. A lot of respect, it's great, Toronto's a great basketball city, great challenge for us, really good team." - Kenny Atkinson on his team playing the Raptors in the 1st round of the NBA playoffs. 

PG Immanuel Quickley

SG Brandon Ingram

SF RJ Barrett

PF Scottie Barnes

C Jakob Poeltl

PG James Harden

SG Donovan Mitchell

SF Dean Wade

PF Evan Mobley

C Jarrett Allen

PPG: Brandon Ingram (21.5)

APG: Immanuel Quickley (5.9)

Reb/G: Scottie Barnes (7.5)

PPG: Donovan Mitchell (27.9)

APG: James Harden (7.7)

Reb/G: Evan Mobley (9)

Coaches:

Toronto Raptors: Darko Rajakovic (3rd season)

Cleveland Cavaliers: Kenny Atkinson (2nd season)