NBA Basketball
2026-04-23 - Cleveland Cavaliers at Toronto Raptors
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : NBA Basketball Playoffs First Round Game 3
Thursday 23rd April 2026 - Scheduled 8pm EST
1am (British Time)
Preview
As the First Round of the NBA Playoffs Bracket came closer to being formed, it was clear in the Eastern Conference that the Toronto Raptors were seen as the team to face in this Round.
That might have offered some real motivation to the Raptors players, but it has not been enough in this First Round Series and they have not been able to compete with the Cleveland Cavaliers as they return home 2-0 down in the Series. The Raptors will be well aware of the history of the NBA which has never seen a team recover in a best of seven Series from 3-0 behind and so there should be some extra effort and intensity in trying to avoid that fate.
In recent years, a trend had developed where backing a team 2-0 down in the NBA Playoffs to be leading at half time in Game 3 and covering what was traditionally a smaller spread was paying out regularly. The layers are on top of that these days after so many people spoke about it and so that is no longer the angle it once was with bigger half time spreads tending to be set.
You can understand the argument- the historical failure of teams to recover from 3-0 behind and the desperation of teams in that position, particularly at home, does bring out that extra effort from the outset.
This is something the Cleveland Cavaliers will have to manage early in Game 3, but they have to be feeling really comfortable with the match up- not only have they won both games by double digits, but the Cavaliers have outscored the Toronto Raptors in six of the eight Quarters played and one of those where they failed to do that was in the Fourth Quarter of a monster blowout in Game 1.
The Raptors have not shot the ball poorly with over 50% of field goals made in both games, although they struggled from the three point distance in Game 2. They had more Rebounds in Game 2 compared with the Cavaliers, but Cleveland have been just too good Offensively and even a drop in the efficiency from the three point arc did little to disrupt the momentum and consistency of the team on that side of the court.
A real advantage for the Cavaliers is having two very good ball-handlers in Donovan Mitchell and James Harden and that has seen them massively dominated the turnover battle.
Cleveland have been able to shut off Brandon Ingram, which has put more pressure on the other players to replace his scoring abilities, and it is simply very difficult to see how this Series is begun to be turned around.
In recent seasons, Game 3 has been dominated by the road team unless set as a significant underdog and the Cavaliers can move to the brink of the Eastern Conference Second Round with another strong win.
Prediction
Lay the points with the road favourite in this Game 3 of this First Round Series.
The Pick :
Toronto Raptors 109-114 Cleveland Cavaliers
