NBA Basketball

2026-04-18 - Toronto Raptors at Cleveland Cavaliers

A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown

Toronto Raptors @ Cleveland Cavaliers
United States : NBA Basketball Playoffs First Round Game 1
Saturday 18th April 2026 - Scheduled 1pm EST
6pm (British Time)

Preview

There was an opportunity for the Cleveland Cavaliers to put in a big effort to try and move up to the Number 3 Seed in the Eastern Conference, but ultimately a decision was made to make sure key contributors were available at full health when the First Round Series were to begin.

They showed little concern as to who they would be facing in the First Round and Cleveland were perhaps most focused on making sure they did not run into the Boston Celtics in the Second Round of the Playoffs.

In saying that, the Cavaliers had to be anticipating facing the toughest of the likely First Round opponents in the Atlanta Hawks, but a late slip in the regular season allowed the Toronto Raptors to move into the Number 5 Seed.

There won't be too many Cavaliers upset at this First Round Series instead of the one that could have been against the Atlanta Hawks.

However, that will be bulletin board material for the Toronto Raptors who may have struggled against the best teams in the NBA, but who did win all three regular season games played against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The quirk of the schedule means all of those games were played before December and there has been a significant roster change for the Cavaliers since then, but Toronto fans can take some real encouragement out of that record.

In the last couple of road games in the regular season, the Raptors were blown out by both the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks and they will need some of the leaders to step up on the return to the Playoffs. This is a team that is still transitioning into one that can challenge at the top of the Eastern Conference with regularity, but the key to this Series is bringing a real Defensive intensity into every game played.

The Raptors struggled with some of that down the stretch in the regular season and will be having their first look at the Cavaliers with James Harden in the lineup.

However, the opening games of the post-season will be something of a learning curve for the Cleveland Cavaliers- they may have traded for Harden before the deadline, but injuries have hurt the roster and that has meant limited time spent on the court with what Cleveland will feel is the strongest lineup. While they have had some minutes, you do have to wonder if that is going to be an early factor in the Playoffs with the Cavaliers looking to make a fast start and avoid giving Toronto too much encouragement.

Cleveland do look like a team that will have considerable success Offensively, but the questions have long been about whether that is going to cover the obvious downgrade Defensively of bringing in James Harden for Darius Garland. They showed something in the last few regular season games, but the three point Defensive performances were worrying, even if there is a feeling that this current Raptors team are not best suited to exploit those concerns.

The battle on the boards is going to be key, but the Game 1 of First Round NBA Playoff Series have tended to be dominated by the home team in recent years.

Pressure can be created by this Cleveland Offensive unit and they should be stronger on the other side of the court with the likes of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen on the floor.

The head to head is largely irrelevant considering how long ago the last of those meetings were and the Cleveland Cavaliers should have the qualities needed to move into a 1-0 lead.

Home teams are 12-4 against the spread in the last two Playoff seasons in Game 1 of the First Round and big favourites are still thriving in this Round.

Toronto will have the shooting power to stay competitive for a while, but the Cavaliers should have enough to pull clear in the second half and they can open this Playoff run with a solid win and a cover.