The Cleveland Cavaliers take a trip to Toronto for both teams’ first game of the brand new 2024-25 NBA season. This game tips off on Wednesday, October 23rd, at 7:30 PM EST. The Cavaliers had a promising regular season last year and are the favorites to win their first game based on the NBA odds.
They had their playoff run spoiled by injuries, but they will be confident in securing a top seed again this season. The Raptors are only five years adrift from a championship but couldn’t be further from competing this year. Scottie Barnes will give the franchise hope and will make this game closer for the expert NBA predictions. These two teams are ready for the new season and will be the perfect NBA matchup for your NBA predictions.Â
Matchup: Cavaliers vs Raptors Overview
- Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers at Toronto Raptors
- Date: Wednesday, October 23rd, 2024
- Time: Tip-off is at 7:30 PM EST
- Venue: Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Win Probabilities:
The Cleveland Cavaliers are the clear favorites to win against the Toronto Raptors. Despite being on the road, the Cavaliers have a win probability of 62.11%. The Raptors are at home, but a lack of scoring depth means they have a win probability of just 37.89%.
Projected Final Score:
The projected score can be calculated using expert picks and insights for every upcoming game. For the NBA matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors, the projected final score is the Cavaliers 113-106 Raptors.
Cavaliers vs Raptors Odds
| Cleveland Cavaliers | Toronto Raptors | |
| Moneyline | -210 | +155 |
| Spread | -5 (-115) | +5 (-115) |
The Toronto Raptors enter their home opener as underdogs against a formidable Cleveland Cavaliers squad. They are five point underdogs and have +155 odds on the moneyline. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers will be confident they can start the year with a victory and build on their momentum from last season. The odds for the total points scored are evenly split between over and under 220 points. These two teams prioritize defense, and both operate at a slow pace of play.
| Over 220 Points | Under 220 Points |
| -115 | -115 |
Expert Predictions: Who Wins?
Why the Cleveland Cavaliers Could Win
The Cavaliers have the skill on both sides of the court to beat the Toronto Raptors. Donovan Mitchell is one of the best point guards in the league, and his ability to not only create his own points but also set up his teammates will make him a tough guard to slow down. Mitchell scored 26.6 PPG last season, while the Raptors leading scorer, RJ Barrett, only scored 21.8 PPG.
Cleveland has the talent on the perimeter, but they also have towering size on the interior, which will give Toronto issues. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley are both over seven feet tall, and the pair will patrol the paint all night long. Both averaged 1+ blocks per game last year, and they will be swatting the Raptors’ layups throughout the contest.
The Cavaliers have a fantastic offense, but their defense separates them from most teams in the league. They had the 6th best defensive rating last season despite three of their starters missing 25+ games due to injury. They are fully healthy heading into the season, and their smothering defense will trouble Toronto from the opening tip off to the final buzzer. The Cavaliers are the favorites on the NBA odds and are a great expert prediction for the first game of their NBA campaign.
Why the Toronto Raptors Could Win
The Raptors benefit from playing in front of their home fans, which will give them a huge edge in the Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers matchup. Although they are underdogs on the NBA odds for this matchup, a new season brings optimism for every team, regardless of their results from the previous season.
The Toronto Raptors may not have the same scoring depth or blanketing defense as the Cavaliers, but they have a sense of optimism and far less pressure to deliver. The expectations are low for the Raptors this season, which could allow them to play free-flowing basketball in the opening games of the year. This year’s priority will be developing their young core rather than prioritizing wins.Â
Toronto signed Scottie Barnes to a massive 5-year, $224 million contract. Barnes is the future of this organization, and the young forward will give the Raptors a chance to not only cover the spread but win outright. Barnes has a positive impact on both ends of the court, and if he plays up to his capabilities, the Raptors could certainly start off the year with a massive win.
How to Make Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors Picks
In order to make your free Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors picks, you will need to visit Sportzino. Sportzino is the clear choice for making your NBA predictions this season, and this upcoming matchup north of the border will be can’t miss NBA basketball. You can make your free NBA predictions using expert picks on the moneyline, total, spread, and player props. It doesn’t matter that the Raptors missed the playoffs last season and have little hope of competing this year, the home opener is always a special game for every NBA team.
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