The Toronto Raptors visit Cleveland to take on the Cavaliers in Game of the Eastern Conference Finals, pitting the fifth-ranked offense against the second-ranked defense. Action gets underway at 8:30 pm ET on Thursday, May 19 and can be seen on ESP.
The Cavaliers come into this game on a high note after thoroughly outplaying the Raptors 115-84 on Tuesday. Kyrie Irving was the game’s high scorer with 27 points on 11-for-17 shooting.
The game should be a matchup of strength against strength, as the high-octane offense of Cleveland (third in the NBA with an offensive efficiency of 109.8) takes on the stingy defense of Toronto (third in the league with a defensive efficiency of 103.4). Also, the Raptors’s fifth-ranked offense (offensive efficiency of 106.8) will face off against the second-ranked defense of the Cavaliers (defensive efficiency of 103.0).
The Cavaliers have gone 66-25 Straight Up (SU) and 43-46-2 Against The Spread (ATS). Over their last 10 games, they have only managed a record of 3-7 ATS. Cleveland has averaged 93.6 points per game over the last 10 games, lower than its season average of 104.8. Few teams in the league have a higher assist-to-turnover ratio than Cleveland, which ranks fifth at 1.80. Crossing over to the defensive side of the court, the Cleveland defense has been very good, only giving up 98.1 points per game. Cleveland’s defense can be considered one of the best in the league. The Cavaliers allow a .449 opponent field-goal percentage, one of the lowest shooting rates in the league.
On the other side, Toronto has a SU record of 64-33 and an ATS record of 49-47-1. In Eastern Conference games, Toronto has gone 64-33 SU and 49-47-1 ATS. During the last 10 games, they averaged 108.7 PPG, above their 101.4 PPG season average. Toronto is the fifth-best team in the league at scoring points off turnovers with 16.7 per game.
In their previous meeting this season, Cleveland beat Toronto, bumping its SU record to 6-4 over the Raptors in their last 10 meetings. The teams have an even record ATS, 5-5.
Predictions: SU Winner – Cle
Notes
“Cleveland is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games “.
“Cleveland is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games “.
“Cleveland is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home”.
“Cleveland is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home”.
“Cleveland is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Toronto”.
“The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland’s last 6 games when playing Toronto”.
“Cleveland is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Toronto”.
Toronto ranks 21st in points per game with 101.4, while Cleveland ranks fifth in points allowed with an average of 98.1 given up.
Toronto puts up an average of 98.8 points per away game (ranked 20th), while Cleveland allows 97.8 points per home game (ranked seventh).
Cleveland has a tremendous 39-9 record when it gives up under 100 points this season. Toronto is 19-18 when it scores under 100.
When the Cavaliers give up 100 or more points, they are 27-16. When the Raptors hit triple digits, they also have a winning record (45-15).
Cleveland’s offense and Toronto’s defense both rank third this season. Cleveland has an offensive rating of 109.8 and Toronto has a defensive rating of 103.4.
On average, Cleveland has 95.4 possessions per game and scores 1.098 points on each possession. Toronto has both fewer possessions (94.9) and scores fewer points during those possessions (1.068).
The Cleveland Cavaliers have one of the best effective field goal percentages this season, ranking second in the league with an EFF% of 52.8%. When their opponents have a similar or higher EFF%, the Toronto Raptors are 15-17.
Cleveland makes an average of 22.8 assists per game (ranked 11th), while Toronto makes 18.3 assists per game (ranked 29th).
The Cleveland Cavaliers average 3.8 blocks per game for a rank of 28th. The Toronto Raptors rank higher (11th), earning 5.2 blocks each contest.
Cleveland is ranked 10th in offensive rebounding. Toronto ranks 22nd in defensive rebounds.
The Cleveland Cavaliers make an average of 6.8 steals per game. When the Toronto Raptors allow 6 or more steals, they are a winning 42-18.
