Cleveland-cavaliers vs Toronto-raptors Picks and Predictions January 9th 2025

Cleveland-Cavaliers vs Toronto-Raptors January 9th 2025

The Toronto Raptors will travel to Cleveland to take on the Cavaliers in a 7:00 ET Eastern Conference matchup. The Cavaliers are currently favored by 15.5 points and have won 11 straight games. The Raptors have lost three straight and are 14th in the Eastern Conference.

This game will be played at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and can be seen on SN. The over/under line for this game is 235 points.

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Raptors vs. Cavaliers Key Information

Toronto’s season continued to struggle as they fell to 8-29 after a 112-98 loss to the Knicks on Wednesday. The Raptors were +12 point underdogs on the road and failed to cover the spread. The game’s total points of 210 fell well short of the O/U line of 233.5.

Toronto kept things close early, trailing 28-24 after the 1st quarter and tying the 2nd quarter 27-27. However, an 11-0 run by the Knicks stretched the score from 68-62 to 79-62, and the Raptors couldn’t recover. New York outscored Toronto 31-25 in the 3rd and 26-22 in the 4th.

Immanuel Quickley led the Raptors with 22 points and 5 assists in their 112-98 loss to the Knicks, shooting 58.3% from the field and hitting 3 threes at a 50% clip. Scottie Barnes added 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, making 2 threes on 66.7% shooting from deep. RJ Barrett contributed 16 points and 5 rebounds.

Toronto shot 49.4% from the field and 38.5% from three, connecting on 10 threes, which was below average. Quickley scored 8 points in both the 2nd and 3rd quarters, while Barnes added 9 points in the 2nd and 7 in the 3rd.

Defensively, the Raptors gave up 112 points to the Knicks, who shot 47% from the field. Toronto allowed 28 points in the 1st quarter, 27 in the 2nd, 31 in the 3rd, and 26 in the 4th.

From beyond the arc, the Raptors held the Knicks to 12 threes on 36% shooting. New York also went 16/20 from the free-throw line. Toronto finished with 9 steals and 6 blocks.

The Cavaliers improved to 32-4 on the season with a 129-122 win over the Thunder on Wednesday. Playing at home, Cleveland was favored by 3 points and covered the spread. The game’s total of 251 points exceeded the O/U line of 230.5 by 20.5 points.

Cleveland fell behind 32-25 after the 1st quarter but responded with a 37-27 2nd quarter. After a tight 3rd quarter, where the Thunder edged them 43-41, the Cavs clamped down defensively in the 4th, holding OKC to 20 points while scoring 26 of their own.

Jarrett Allen’s 25 points and 11 rebounds on 81.8% shooting led the Cavaliers to a 129-122 win over the Thunder, with Evan Mobley adding 21 points and 10 boards. The Cavs shot 52.2% from the field and hit 41.7% of their threes, making 15 from deep.

Allen scored 9 points in both the 2nd and 3rd quarters, while Ty Jerome added 8 of his 15 points in the 4th. Mobley also contributed 7 points in the final period.

Even with a rough 3rd quarter where they gave up 43 points, the Cavaliers’ defense tightened up in the 4th, allowing just 20 points to help secure the win. Overall, they allowed 122 points on 53% shooting from the Thunder.

Cleveland did well defending the three, holding Oklahoma City to 35% shooting with 11 made threes. The Cavaliers also sent the Thunder to the line 17 times, where they made 15 free throws. Defensively, Cleveland recorded 7 steals and 2 blocks.

Entering the game as underdogs with a spread of +15.5, the Raptors is our point spread pick. Our projections not only see them covering the spread but also indicate a solid chance of an outright victory. This is a good choice for those looking for a higher moneyline payout.

As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 235, and our model projects the Raptors and Cavaliers to reach a combined total of 295 points. Our bet is on taking the over.

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Cavaliers Aim to Keep Rolling, Raptors Seek Answers in Cleveland

The Cleveland Cavaliers, fresh off a thrilling victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, will look to extend their NBA-best 12-game winning streak on Thursday night when they host the struggling Toronto Raptors.

Cavaliers Riding High After Statement Win

Cleveland ended Oklahoma City’s 15-game winning streak on Wednesday with a 129-122 home victory, fueled by dominant performances from their frontcourt. Jarrett Allen posted 25 points on 9-of-11 shooting, along with 11 rebounds, while Evan Mobley contributed 21 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists in a breakout showing on a national stage.

Mobley’s development has been instrumental in the Cavaliers’ success. Averaging 18.9 points and 8.7 rebounds this season, the 23-year-old forward is cementing his status as a cornerstone of the franchise. His all-around performance on Wednesday drew praise from teammate Allen.

“The [national audience] finally learned who Evan Mobley is,” Allen said. “On the defensive end, he was getting stops. On the offensive end, we literally just drew up a play, gave him the ball, and said go to work.”

Cleveland’s 32-4 start to the season places them in elite company, matched by only four other teams in NBA history. Three of those teams went on to win the championship, underscoring the Cavaliers’ potential this season. Donovan Mitchell (22.9 points per game) and Darius Garland (20.4 points and 6.7 assists per game) continue to lead the team’s backcourt, while Allen anchors the paint with 10.1 rebounds and 14.1 points per game.

Raptors Struggling to Find Their Footing

The Raptors, meanwhile, are searching for answers after a 112-98 loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday marked their third straight defeat. Toronto has dropped 14 of its last 15 games, with its lone win being a New Year’s Day triumph over the Brooklyn Nets.

Despite the return of Immanuel Quickley from injury, the Raptors have struggled to string together wins. Quickley delivered 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting against the Knicks, but his efforts have yet to spark a turnaround.

“The intensity that [Quickley brings] to the floor, both ends of the floor, is something we really missed,” said Raptors forward Scottie Barnes. “His leadership, his playmaking ability—it’s something we need.”

The Raptors will need more from their core group, including Barnes and Pascal Siakam, to have any chance of upsetting the surging Cavaliers.

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Keys to the Game

1. Cleveland’s Frontcourt Dominance: Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley will look to exploit Toronto’s interior, particularly given the Raptors’ recent struggles in the paint.
2. Raptors’ Defensive Adjustments: Toronto must contain Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, whose scoring and playmaking are pivotal to Cleveland’s offense.
3. Energy Management: Both teams played on Wednesday, so stamina and depth could play a significant role in determining the outcome.

The Cavaliers will look to maintain their torrid pace and further solidify their position atop the Eastern Conference, while the Raptors aim to snap their losing streak and find some semblance of rhythm.