Free NBA Pick: Cavaliers vs. Raptors NBA Odds
Looking for Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Cavaliers taking on the Raptors on Thursday, March 24th, 2022 at Scotiabank Arena. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Cavaliers Raptors matchup.
2022 NBA Handicapping
(41-31) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors (40-32)
Date: Thursday, March 24th
Time: 7:30 PM EST
Venue: Bankers Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario
NBA Moneyline Odds: Cavaliers +154 | Raptors -154 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Raptors -3.5
NBA Betting Total: 215
Thursday, March 24th the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors meet for the fourth and final time this season.
This game has major seeding implications. A Raptors win would find the teams even in wins-losses but Cleveland still ahead based on the 3-0 prior record. Toronto also has an easier closing schedule but this feels like a must-win for the Dinos.
Both teams last played on Monday with the Raptors running out of gas in the second game of a back-to-back losing 99-113 in Chicago while the Cavs fell 120-131 to the Lakers.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland has won all three prior meetings although the Raptors have never had their typical starting five available.
Pascal Siakam hadn’t returned from his offseason shoulder surgery in the first meeting that came down to clutch time with Scottie Barnes tip shot falling a fraction of a second too late (102-101).
The second game between the clubs featured four hardship contracted players who met on the bus to the Fieldhouse and four Raptors bench players. Not surprisingly, Cleveland won that game 144-99.
Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby were out for the most recent match with the Cavs winning 104-96.
Rajon Rondo (ankle) and Dean Wade (knee) were downgraded to out Thursday while Jarrett Allen (finger) is out indefinitely. Collin Sexton (knee) is out for the season.
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors exited Cleveland on March 6th, trailing the Cavs by 3.5 games and set to hit the West to complete the six-game road trip.
Many felt the seeds were cemented but then the Raptors swept those five games making up three in the loss column as the Cavs went 2-3 in the same period.
Toronto was poised to take over sixth on Friday when they held the lead on LA with less than 10 seconds remaining and the Cavs were trailing the Nuggets. But everything shifted in seconds and both games went to overtime with the Lakers and Cavs prevailing.
After beating the 76ers on Monday, the Raps once again had a shot to pull even on Tuesday when the Cavs lost to the Lakers but their schedule caught up and they faded in the second half falling to the Bulls.
Fred VanVleet hasn’t looked right since the All-Star break and while the team is trying to manage the situation resting him on and off it really looks like he could use a full week or two off to get right.
That’s not likely to happen with the team chasing the sixth seed but he’ll benefit from being home for the majority of the closing schedule with only two more road games and one more back-to-back set (their 17th this season).
Gary Trent Jr. (toe) is questionable. OG Anunoby (finger) and Malachi Flynn (hamstring) are out indefinitely.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Cleveland’s last 5 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto’s last 5 games.
- Cavaliers are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 games as an underdog.
- Raptors are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite.
Free Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors NBA Prediction:
The Raptors looked absolutely spent in the second half at Chicago and once again their lack of depth was an issue. With Anunoby still out they suffer if one of VanVleet or Trent are also out because they’re arguably the three best Raptors perimeter shooters.
Cleveland is also learning the value of core players as the loss of Allen has equated to the team struggling to defend at the rim and get easier scores in the paint.
Evan Mobley and Scottie Barnes are the top candidates for Rookie of the Year and while many have already anointed Mobley, Barnes has been better since the All-Star break and things could shift if Toronto ends up passing Cleveland in the standings.
Either way – this is a must-win for the Raptors to keep that sixth seed option open.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Raptors ATS
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