Cavs vs Raptors: Preview, betting odds and TV channel

The Cleveland Cavaliers got somewhat lucky in the NBA Draft last summer, as the best rookie and perhaps best prospect overall in the draft fell to them at No. 3. If the Houston Rockets had taken Mobley second, then the Cavs’ breakout season could look a lot different. Instead, they did take Mobley, and he has been the Rookie of the Year favorite and an All-Defense candidate.

The Toronto Raptors went out on more of a limb, reaching past players in “a higher tier” to take Scottie Barnes at No. 4, eschewing the obvious fit of Jalen Suggs. Barnes is having an excellent rookie season himself, and he and Mobley are locks for the All-Rookie First Team.

The Cavs play the Toronto Raptors Sunday night in a showdown of rookie standouts. What do you need to know about who is playing and how to bet?

Barnes has taken on even more of a role for the Raptors in recent games with OB Anunoby out nursing a broken finger. Yet so has Mobley, picking up offensive slack as the team continues to see their backcourt miss time. The two players will likely spend time guarding each other tonight, in what should be an exciting historical note on this natural rivalry.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Raptors: Odds, spread, over/under

The Cavaliers (36-27) will host the Raptors (34-29) tonight. According to our partners over at WynnBet, Cleveland is favored by 4.5 points over Toronto. The over/under point total is 210, the lowest number by far of the day’s game.

Both the Cavs and Raptors last played on Friday night. The Cavs had a come-from-ahead loss to the Philadelphia 76ers as James Harden eventually overwhelmed them. The Raptors gave the Orlando Magic their first win in nine games. Both teams had a short slight to get to Cleveland for this game, with the Raptors coming down from Toronto and the Cavs returning home from Philadelphia.

Cavs vs Raptors: Projected starting lineups, injury report

Raptors starters: Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, Khem Birch

Cavs starters: Darius Garland, Isaac Okoro, Lauri Markkanen, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

The Raptors’ key injuries: OG Anunoby (out, finger); David Johnson, D.J. Wilson (out, knee); Fred VanVleet (questionable, knee); Malachi Flynn (questionable, hamstring)

The Cavaliers’ key injuries: Collin Sexton (out for season, knee); Rajon Rondo (out, toe); Caris LeVert (out, foot)

Cavs vs Raptors: Prediction

The Cavs and Raptors are both in similar boats, with numerous injuries to their backcourts. The Cavs just got Darius Garland back from rehabbing his back, but will still be without their backup point and shooting guards in Rajon Rondo and Caris LeVert. The Raptors, on the other hand, are missing OG Anunoby for another week or two, but also have point guards Fred VanVeleet and Malachi Flynn listed as questionable.

The Raptors are well-coached and love to rotate through their collection of forwards, but their defensive impact is somewhat muted against a team like Cleveland without any true wings. Gary Trent Jr. will likely check Garland, which is an advantage for the Cavs, as is the idea that any of the Raptors’ centers can fully contain Jarrett Allen.

Barnes vs Mobley will be the headline event, and the two rookies have been electric this season. Barnes is the better shot creator, but Mobley has been transcendent defensively. The strength of Mobley and Allen inside will make it difficult for a spacing-challenged Toronto team to overcome, especially if VanVleet and Flynn can’t go and the team has to start the non-shooting Delano Banton at the One.

Prediction: Cleveland 104, Toronto 99

The Bet: Cleveland (-4.5), UNDER

Cavs vs Raptors: Where to Watch

The Cleveland Cavaliers were one of a handful of small market rebuilding teams that did not get a single game at the start of the season on the NBA’s primary television networks: ESPN, ABC or TNT. Yet their strong play, plus the excitement of Evan Mobley in particular, made them a candidate for a flex-game slot, and now their game tonight against the Raptors will be broadcast on ESPN at 7:30 pm ET.

Cleveland Cavaliers Upcoming Schedule

The Cavs embark on an Eastern Conference road trip this week, playing three-straight away game starting on Tuesday in Indiana. Then they take on the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls, in a nasty back-to-back scenario on Friday and Saturday.

These will be crucial games for the Cavs as they seek to stay afloat in the Eastern Conference playoff race, as will every game for the last month of the season. The Cavs have 18 games left after tonight, and every one matters.