Cleveland Cavaliers at Toronto Raptors NBA Picks & Predictions 5/1/2018

Thursday, May 3, 2018

Air Canada Centre

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Air Canada Centre to play the Toronto Raptors on Thursday, May 3, 2018 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Cavs lead the series 1-0. The opening line for this matchup has Toronto as 6 point favorites.

The Cavaliers had a regular season record of 50-32. They were 1st in the Central Division. They currently had a point differential of 1.0 as they averaged 110.9 points per game while giving up 109.9 per contest. The Raptors had an overall mark of 59-23. They finished 1st in the Atlantic Division. They totaled 111.7 points per contest and gave up 103.9, which is a point differential of 7.8.

Valuable Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Trends

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 34-54-2 against the spread

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 44-45-0 against the over/under

Important Toronto Raptors Betting Trends

The Toronto Raptors are 48-41-0 against the spread

The Toronto Raptors are 46-43-0 against the over/under

Key Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Toronto Raptors Injuries

05/01/18 G Fred VanVleet Shoulder is "?" Thursday vs Cleveland

Player Spotlight

Lebron James comes into this contest averaging 27.5 points per game while playing 36.9 minutes per night so far this season for the Cavaliers. He pulls down 8.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 9.1 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 54% while his free throw percentage is currently at 73%. Kevin Love averages 17.6 points per game in 28 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.7 assists per contest and 9.3 rebounds per game for Cleveland. His field goal percentage is 46% for the year while his free throw percentage is 88%.

Player Spotlight

DeMar DeRozan averages 23 points per game while playing 33.9 minutes per contest this year for the Raptors. He grabs 3.9 rebounds per game and has 5.2 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage currently is at 83%. Kyle Lowry averages 16.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.6 rebounds per contest and 6.9 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

Cleveland averages 110.9 points per contest this season, which ranks them 5th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 0.94 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 4th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 6th in the league. They average 42.1 rebounds per game and 23.4 assists per game, which ranks them 23rd and 11th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 21st with 13.7 per game. The Cavaliers allow 109.9 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 26th in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 28th and 20th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43.6 rebounds a game which ranks 17th and they give up 25.9 assists per contest, which puts them in 29th place in the league. They force 13.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 5th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Toronto is 4th in the league with 111.7 points per game this year. They are 8th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 7.78. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 18th in the NBA. They are 14th in the league in rebounding with 44 boards per game, and 6th in assists per contest with 24.3. The Raptors are 25th in turnovers per game with 13.4. The Raptors surrender 103.9 points per contest, which ranks them 8th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 5th and 11th in those defensive statistics. They rank 8th with 21.8 assists allowed per contest and 7th with 42.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Raptors are 19th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.3 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Cavaliers are 5th in the league in defensive rating with 111.9, and their offensive rating of 112.9 is ranked 2nd. They are 12th in the NBA in pace with 98 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 3rd. As a unit they are 3rd in the league in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 4th in the NBA. Cleveland is 21st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 3rd in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Toronto is 27th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 28th in the league. The Raptors are 2nd in the NBA in offensive rating with 113.8, and their defensive rating of 105.9 is ranked 26th. In terms of pace they are 14th in the league with 97.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 5th. As a team they are 4th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 5th in the league.

Who will win tonight's NBA game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Cleveland +6

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