NBA Playoffs: What to expect in Cavaliers-Raptors series

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Typically the 4-5 series lends the understandable perception of being the most competitive of all the first round best-of-7s. And this one could follow that example, if only because the Raptors swept the Cavs 3-0 this season. There’s also a counter argument: Cleveland is just one year removed from being a top-seed and this season got stronger by adding James Harden; they are 19-6 when he plays. Meanwhile, Toronto avoided a late slide and the SoFi Play-In Tournament, improving by 16 wins over last season and will enter the postseason on an encouraging note.

Series schedule

Here’s how to watch the Cavaliers vs. Raptors series:

All times Eastern Standard Time

Game 1:

Raptors at Cavaliers | Saturday April 18 (1 ET, Prime Video)

Game 2:

Toronto at Cleveland | Monday April 20 (7 ET, NBC/Peacock)

Game 3:

Cleveland at Toronto | Thursday April 23 (8 ET, Prime Video)

Game 4:

Cleveland at Toronto | Sunday April 26 (1 ET, ESPN)

Game 5:

Raptors at Cavaliers (TBD)*

Game 6:

Cavaliers at Raptors (TBD)*

Game 7:

* = If necessary

Regular Season Results

Oct. 31 (Emirates NBA Cup Group Play):

Toronto 112, Cleveland: 101

Nov. 13:

Toronto 126, Cleveland 113

Nov. 24:

Toronto 110, Cleveland 99

Top storyline

James Harden is known

as one of the greatest players of this generation, and also for his lack of a ring. He can’t resolve that blemish in the first round, but this is where such a quest must begin — with a new team, once again.

Give him this: Harden smoothed his midseason transition with the Cavs by wisely being a facilitator first and foremost. This allowed him to defer to Donovan Mitchell and also put his new teammates in position to score, namely big men Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.

Meanwhile, the Raptors are young and quick and bring a group that’s fully familiar with each other and seemingly in sync. Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett will need to collectively produce for the Raptors to have a chance. This is the first playoff trip for this bunch and there are other players in the rotation who have underachieved or are still developing; you wonder how they’ll respond in the bright lights.

Keep your eyes on

Evan Mobley’s production.

Mobley had a solid season, nearly averaging a double-double while providing a credible job on defense. And that’s where it ends. He didn’t come anywhere close to copying his breakout 2025 – when he earned All-Star, All-NBA Second Team and Kia Defensive Player of the Year honors – so, in that sense, this followup was uninspiring. Contrast him to Ingram, who led the Raptors in scoring and earned an All-Star berth alongside Barnes.

One more thing to watch for each team

For Cavaliers:

Their defense, which wasn’t exactly championship-quality during the regular season, will be tested this series. The Cavs must find someone to keep Toronto’s active wings in check because Ingram, Barrett and Barnes are the heart of this team. All three are capable of not only dropping 20 points, but being threats late in tight games.

Who’s the best option defensively for the Cavs? Max Strus, Sam Merrill, Dean Wade or Jaylon Tyson? Is there a stopper or two amongst that bunch? The length of this series, or maybe even the outcome, will rest with that question.

For Raptors:

A few years ago center Jakob Poeltl was a solid interior presence for the Raptors and the club extended him. This season, he missed 39 games and looked spotty when he did play. While Toronto finished allowing the ninth-fewest points this season, the Raps could use some force from him.

As a tandem, Allen and Mobley can be bullish on the boards; Toronto finished 24th in rebounding. Toronto did get encouraging play from Collin Murray-Boyles, but coming up big (literally) in the playoffs might be a big ask for the 20-year-old rookie.

One key number to know

89 –

The Cavs’ most-used lineup played a total of

just 89 minutes

this season. That was the fewest minutes for any team’s most-used lineup, and that particular group included Darius Garland and De’Andre Hunter, who were both traded mid-season.

James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen played together in just seven games and for

a total of just 92 minutes

. The Cavs were terrific in those 92 minutes, outscoring their opponents by 26.7 points per 100 possessions. But that’s a

very

small sample size and the Cavs go into the playoffs with the least continuity of any team.

For comparison, the Raptors’ starting lineup had played 348 minutes together prior to the season finale against Brooklyn, even though Jakob Poeltl missed 36 games. That group outscored opponents by 7.5 points per 100 possessions, a mark which ranked

12th

among the 19 lineups that played at least 200 minutes.

–John Schuhmann

The pick

Cavs in five.

Mitchell has three 50-point games and seven 40-pointers in the playoffs, which suggests he’s built for this time of year. Despite those feats, he has never reached the conference finals. In that sense he has something to prove especially since the Cavs lost in the second round last season. The first step in checking that box is getting beyond the first round. Mitchell needs to be, and should be, the best player on the floor this series. The Raptors are equipped to make each game close; whether they can outplay Mitchell and Harden in those fourth-quarter moments of truth, though, is questionable.

* * *

Shaun Powell has covered the NBA since 1985. You can e-mail him at

spowell@nba.com

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