The Cleveland Cavaliers were one of the headliners this offseason, extending Dean Wade and signing Mamadi Diakite to a two-way contract. Oh, and trading for some guy named Donovan Mitchell.
The flashes we got of the Mitchell – Darius Garland combination were tantalizing in the preseason, but now we get to see it for real. The Cavs will be deploying their four stars against a formidable opponent, a Toronto Raptors team that is made up of a point guard and a swarming horde of combo forwards all between 6’7″ and 6’9″. They are testing modern basketball at its limits.
Opening night is just one game of 82 in the standings, but it means a lot more in setting the tone for the season. What do you need to know about the game, and how should you place your bets? As the season kicks off we’ll explain some of the Vegas numbers too.
Betting odds, spread, over/under
The Cavs are currently 2.5 point underdogs to the Toronto Raptors, per WynnBet, and given that the game is in Canada that suggests both teams are viewed to be about even on a neutral floor. For those new to betting, that means that if you bet the Cavaliers tonight you “win” if they either win or loss by less than 2.5 points. A 110 – 108 Cavs defeat would be bitter, but would “pay out” to those who bet the Cavs.
The point total for the game is 214.5, which predicts the total points scored by both teams combined. When you factor in both numbers, the implied team totals are Toronto Raptors 113.5 and the Cleveland Cavaliers 111.
Cavs injury report
The Cavaliers will be without point guard Ricky Rubio for the first few months of the season. In addition, the Cavs will suit up without Dylan Windler (ankle) and Mamadi Diakite (undisclosed). Evan Mobley is a full go and the rest of the roster will be available tonight.
Cleveland Cavaliers starting lineup tonight
The starting lineup for the Cavs is 80 percent certain, but the small forward spot is still a secret, for at least a few more hours. We will update when we know for sure, but for now, our guess is that Caris LeVert starts over Isaac Okoro. The Raptors, returning their same starting lineup from last season, are more certain, although facing the size of the Cavs they could elect to go “big” and move one of their forwards to the bench.
Cavaliers: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Caris LeVert, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Raptors: Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam
Prediction
The headline for tonight’s game is Evan Mobley vs Scottie Barnes, the two top Rookie of the Year finishers last season. Barnes got the award, but Mobley is getting more buzz. The game is more than a showdown between these two players, but they will certainly get at least a handful of possessions facing off.
The keys for the Cavs will be cleaning the glass and generating open shots on offense. If Mitchell and Garland can keep the Raptors stretched out, there will be the room inside for Cleveland’s bigs to use to finish. If the spacing gets cramped, the sea of limbs in the paint could make it difficult to operate.
Both of these are good teams, and both have a strong shot at making the playoffs. The game is in Toronto, and while the Cavs have more star power they also don’t have the chemistry and continuity the Raptors have already established. Cleveland may need a few games to get their feel for each other, and Toronto will take advantage.
Toronto 106, Cleveland 101
What channel is the Cleveland Cavaliers game on?
On a busy Wednesday night to begin the season, the Cavs and Raptors are not on national television. Local fans can tune into Bally Sports Ohio, while everyone else can watch on NBA League Pass. The game tips off at 7:30pm ET.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. [full team name] live stream
If you need a live stream, check out FuboTV for a free trial!
Cleveland Cavaliers next games and schedule
The Cavaliers will get a beat to catch their breath, with two nights off before a showdown with the Chicago Bulls on Saturday. They will fly straight home to play the next night in Cleveland for the home opener against the Washington Wizards, and then two more off nights before they host the Orlando Magic. Even if they lose tonight, a 3-1 start is very much in play for the Cavs.
Sat, Oct 22 – @ Chicago Bulls
Sun, Oct 23 – vs Washington Wizards
Wed, Oct 26 – vs Orlando Magic
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change