Toronto Raptors vs Cleveland Cavaliers Picks and Predictions October 23rd 2024

Raptors vs Cavaliers October 23rd 2024

At 7:30 ET, the Cleveland Cavaliers (-244) will travel to take on the Toronto Raptors (+204) in an Eastern Conference matchup. The Cavaliers are currently favored by 6.5 points, and the over/under line is set at 224.5.

SN will have the TV coverage for this game, which will be played at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Last season, the Cavaliers were 48-34 and finished 4th in the Eastern Conference, while the Raptors were 25-57 and finished 12th in the East.

Cavaliers vs. Raptors Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers at Toronto Raptors
• Where: Toronto at Scotiabank Arena
• Date: Wednesday, October 23rd
• Betting Odds CLE -6.5, CLE -244 | TOR +204 O/U 224.5

The Cavaliers Can Win If…

Ranked 6th in our pre-season power rankings, the Cavaliers have a 96.4% chance of making the playoffs and a 53.9% chance of winning their division. Last season, they finished 48-34, placing 2nd in the Central Division and 4th in the Eastern Conference. At home, they went 26-15, while they were 22-19 on the road.

Against the spread, Cleveland had a 35-46 record and was 37-16 straight-up when favored. They were favored in 53 games, covering the spread in 24 of them. The average over/under line for their games was 222.6 points, and they had an O/U record of 41-40-1, with their games averaging 222.9 points per game.

The Cavaliers enter the season ranked 12th in our Offensive Power Rankings. Last season, they averaged 112.6 points per game, placing 20th in the league. Cleveland was 23rd in possessions per game (97.0) and 24th in field goal attempts per game (87.2), but they were 12th in field goal percentage at 47.9%. They ranked 7th in three-pointers made per game (13.5), shooting 36.7% from beyond the arc, and attempted 36.8 threes per game, ranking 8th. The Cavs were 24th in free throw attempts per game (20.4) and 22nd in offensive rebounds per game (9.8).

Donovan Mitchell is projected to lead the team in scoring, ranking 12th in our league-wide projections. Last season, he averaged 26.6 points, 6.1 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game. Jarrett Allen, who averaged 16.5 points and 10.5 rebounds last season, is projected to be the Cavs’ third-leading scorer. Darius Garland is projected to be the team’s second-leading scorer, ranking 47th in our league-wide projections.

Last season, the Cavaliers ranked 8th in the NBA in points allowed, giving up 110.2 per game, and we have them 4th in our defensive power rankings heading into this year. Donovan Mitchell is one of the top rebounders at his position, and Jarrett Allen remains one of the league’s best shot-blockers. Cleveland was 11th in defensive rebounding and 21st in blocked shots last season.

Opponents shot 46.5% from the field against the Cavaliers last year, placing them 9th in field-goal percentage allowed. They were 20th in three-point defense, allowing 37%, but ranked 5th in two-point shooting percentage allowed, at 52.4%.

• In their last three road games, Cleveland has averaged 103 points per game while allowing 109. The team’s record in this stretch was 1-2 while going 2-1.
• As the betting favorite, the Cavaliers have an ATS record of 3-2 in their last five games. In these matchups their, straight up record was 4-1.
• Over their last five games, the Cavaliers have an over/under record of 3-2 and are 3-2 vs. the spread.

The Raptors Can Win If…

Ranked 24th in our pre-season power rankings, the Raptors enter the season with a 9.8% chance of making the playoffs. Last season, Toronto finished 25-27, placing 12th in the Eastern Conference. They struggled in conference play, going 18-34, and were 1-15 in divisional games, finishing 5th in the Atlantic Division.

The Raptors were 22-60 against the spread and had a 43-38-1 over/under record, with their games averaging 231.1 points. At home, they were 12-29 ATS, with a -6.1 points per game scoring margin, and on the road, they went 10-31 ATS, losing by an average of 6.8 points per game.

The Raptors enter this season ranked 24th in our offensive power rankings after finishing 21st in points per game (112.4) last season. They were 11th in possessions per game (99.4) and 10th in field goal attempts per game (89.7), shooting 47.1% (16th). Toronto struggled from beyond the arc, ranking 28th in three-point percentage (34.7%) and 26th in threes made per game (11.5). They were 16th in free throw attempts per game (21.6) but shot just 75.6% from the line, ranking 29th.

RJ Barrett, who averaged 20.2 points per game last season, is projected to lead the team in scoring, ranking 37th in our league-wide projections. Scottie Barnes is projected 54th, and Immanuel Quickley is 55th. Quickley is also projected to lead the team in three-pointers made, ranking 26th in the league, while rookie Gradey Dick is projected 57th.

Toronto comes into the season ranked 23rd in our defensive power rankings after a tough year in which they allowed 118.8 points per game, placing them 25th in the NBA. Opponents shot 49.1% from the field against them, ranking 26th in field-goal percentage allowed, and hit 37.3% of their three-point attempts. The Raptors were 19th in blocked shots, averaging 4.7 per game.

RJ Barrett, one of their top rebounders, is out, but Jakob Poeltl and Scottie Barnes are expected to help on the boards. Toronto ranked 10th in steals last season, averaging 7.7 per game.

• Across their ten previous home games, Toronto has an ATS mark of 5-5. Their straight up record in these matchups was 1-9 while averaging 105 points per game.
• Spanning across their last three games as the betting underdog, the Raptors have gone 2-1 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 0-3.
• In their last five games, the Raptors have an over/under record of 5-0 and are 1-4 vs. the spread.

The Lean

We’re backing the Cavaliers for a victory, with the projected score at 152-89. Additionally, we favor them to cover the spread, so we recommend placing a bet on the Cavaliers at -6.5.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 224.5 and our model has the Cavaliers and Raptors finishing with a combined 241 points. Our pick is to take the over.

NBA Picks & Previews

Cavs and Raptors Face Injury Challenges Ahead of Season Opener

Injury concerns are casting a shadow over the season opener as the Cleveland Cavaliers prepare to face the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday. Both teams are dealing with notable absences, which could significantly affect their early season performance.

Cleveland Cavaliers’ Key Injuries: Max Strus Out

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been dealt a major blow with Max Strus sidelined for at least six weeks due to a sprained ankle. Strus, a key offseason acquisition, was expected to play a vital role alongside Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen in Cleveland’s starting lineup. Last season, injuries limited this core group to just 28 games together, and with Strus out, the Cavs will need to adapt once again.

Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson acknowledged that the team is still evaluating how to adjust for Strus’ absence. “We haven’t decided yet,” Atkinson said. “We’ll just have to see and study Toronto a little more. See what fits that matchup best.”

Atkinson has a few potential replacements in mind, including Dean Wade, Caris LeVert, and Isaac Okoro, but has not made any final decisions. “It’s not necessarily just those two,” he added. “We have to figure that out. That’s what we’re in the process of doing right now.”

Despite the setback, Atkinson remains optimistic about the team’s depth. “You always feel terrible for the player, especially Max, as hard as he works and what a vital cog he is to this team. But we have great depth. A lot of teams could be affected by this, but we’ve got guys who can step in and help us until he gets back.”

Toronto Raptors’ Injury Concerns: RJ Barrett and Others

The Toronto Raptors are also facing significant injury problems. RJ Barrett, who has been recovering from a shoulder injury sustained during the preseason, is officially listed as out for the opener. However, he has participated in non-contact practices recently, raising some hope for a quicker return. “It feels better than it did two weeks ago,” Barrett said. “My goal is to play, but if I go through it and it doesn’t feel right, it’s just going to have to be what it is.”

In addition to Barrett, Kelly Olynyk will miss the opener due to a back injury. Olynyk did not participate in practice on Monday or Tuesday, having missed the final three preseason games. Ja’Kobe Walter, the Raptors’ 19th overall draft pick, is considered week-to-week with a shoulder injury. Bruce Brown, recovering from knee surgery, has resumed shooting drills, and Immanuel Quickley returned to play last Friday after sitting out four preseason games with a sprained thumb.

Long-Term Injury Impact on Toronto’s Season

Toronto’s injury concerns extend beyond the current season. Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl both missed the end of last season due to injuries, with Barnes sidelined for 22 games due to a fractured hand and Poeltl missing 21 games with a fractured pinky finger. The lack of continuity has been a challenge for the Raptors, who used a franchise-record 30 players last season. Poeltl reflected on the challenge of building chemistry under these circumstances: “It’s tough, especially for a team like us. We haven’t played together for very long. The more practice and games we can get in together, the better.”

The injuries to key players like Barnes, Barrett, and Poeltl mean that the Raptors could struggle to establish rhythm and cohesion early in the season. Last season, Barnes, Barrett, Poeltl, and Quickley played just 14 games together, and their 7-7 record highlighted the inconsistency brought on by the revolving roster.

Depth Will Be Crucial for Both Teams

As both the Cavaliers and Raptors head into the season opener, their depth will be put to the test. For Cleveland, Max Strus’ absence means more pressure on Garland and Mitchell to carry the scoring load, while LeVert, Wade, or Okoro will need to step up on both ends of the floor. The Cavs have emphasized their depth all offseason, and now it will be tested early.

For Toronto, the injuries to Barrett, Olynyk, and Walter come at a time when the team is still trying to integrate new faces and build chemistry. With major contributors like Barnes and Poeltl still working their way back into game shape after last season’s injuries, the Raptors will need to rely on their bench early in the season to avoid falling behind in the competitive Eastern Conference.

Early Season Outlook

The injury issues facing both the Cavaliers and Raptors are significant, but both teams are equipped with enough talent and depth to remain competitive. For Cleveland, Strus’ absence may slow them down initially, but with stars like Garland, Mitchell, and Mobley in the lineup, they remain a playoff contender. The Raptors, on the other hand, need to weather the storm of injuries and hope that Barrett and their other sidelined players return sooner rather than later.

The key for both teams will be surviving these early challenges and using their depth to keep pace in the standings until their full rosters are available. As Atkinson pointed out, “We’ve got guys who can step in and help us,” and that same sentiment will need to hold true for both teams if they hope to meet their lofty expectations this season.

Conclusion

Injury concerns will dominate the season opener for the Cavaliers and Raptors, but both teams have enough depth and resilience to remain competitive. As the season progresses, getting key players healthy will be critical to maintaining consistency and building chemistry, particularly for Toronto, which is trying to integrate several new faces. While both teams face early adversity, their potential remains high once they can field fully healthy rosters.

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