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

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Air Canada Centre

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Cleveland Cavaliers head to Air Canada Centre to take on the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The opening line for this game 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 33-54-2 against the spread

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 43-45-0 against the over/under

Important Toronto Raptors Betting Trends

The Toronto Raptors are 48-40-0 against the spread

The Toronto Raptors are 45-43-0 against the over/under

Key Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Toronto Raptors Injuries

04/30/18 G Fred VanVleet Shoulder is probable Tuesday vs Cleveland

Player Spotlight

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

Player Spotlight

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

Useful Team Statistics

Cleveland averages 110.9 points per contest this year, which is 5th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 0.94 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a unit, which has them ranked 4th. From 3-point territory they shoot 37%, which is good for 6th in the NBA. They average 42.1 boards per contest and 23.4 assists per game, which ranks them 23rd and 11th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 21st with 13.7 per game. The Cavaliers allow 109.9 points per contest which is 26th in the NBA. They also surrender a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 28th and 20th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 43.6 rebounds a game which ranks 17th, and they allow 25.9 assists per game which puts them in 29th place in the league. They force 13.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 5th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

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

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 Toronto -6

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