The stakes could not be higher heading into Game 7 between the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. What has already been one of the most tightly contested series of the first round now comes down to a winner-take-all showdown on Sunday night. Toronto forced this decisive game with a dramatic 112-110 overtime victory in Game 6, capped by a clutch three-pointer from RJ Barrett with just over a second remaining. Before tip-off in this contest, continue reading to get my Raptors vs Cavaliers Game 7 prediction.
Raptors vs Cavaliers Game 7 Pick
- Pick: Raptors +7.5
- Confidence: 3 out of 5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Toronto Raptors @ Cleveland Cavaliers
- Date & Time: Sunday, May 3, 7:30 PM ET
- Venue: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, Ohio
- Broadcast: NBC, Peacock
Key Storylines
Through six games, the home team has won every time. Cleveland now returns home as a sizable favorite, but they faced a close call at home in Game 5. They needed a late comeback in the fourth quarter to beat the Raptors in that game, as home-court advantage doesn’t look quite as meaningful over the last couple of games as it did in the first four games of the series.
The Toronto Raptors enter Game 7 with momentum after its Game 6 win, but injuries remain a concern. Brandon Ingram is dealing with a heel issue, while Immanuel Quickley remains out. Despite those absences, the Raptors have leaned on their depth and strong playmaking from Scottie Barnes to stay competitive.
Key Players
Cleveland Cavaliers
- Donovan Mitchell leads the Cleveland Cavaliers with 27.9 points per game this season and continues to be the primary scoring option in high-pressure situations. But he has been inconsistent late in games in this series and needs to step up when it matters most here.
- Evan Mobley is a two-way anchor, coming off a 26-point, 14-rebound effort in Game 6 while averaging 9.0 rebounds on the season.
- James Harden adds playmaking to the Cavs’ roster, averaging 7.7 assists per game and nearly recording a triple-double in the last outing.
Toronto Raptors
- Scottie Barnes has been the engine for the Raptors, delivering 25 points and 14 assists in Game 6 while averaging 7.5 rebounds during the season.
- RJ Barrett is coming off a 24-point performance, including the game-winning shot, emerging as a clutch scorer late in games.
- JaKobe Walter has stepped up with 24 points in Game 6, providing scoring depth amid injuries.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- The home team has won all 6 games in the series.
- The series is tied 3-3 with identical total points scored by each team.
- The Cavs are an NBA-worst 35-53 against the spread this season.
- Toronto is 46-42 against the spread going into this matchup.
Raptors vs Cavaliers Game 7 Model Projection
- Score Projection: Raptors 102 – Cavaliers 107
- Win Probability: Raptors 32%, Cavaliers 68%
My best bet for this winner-take-all Game 7 is for the Toronto Raptors to cover the spread as an underdog on the road. The Raptors nearly stole Game 5 in Cleveland and have been more than capable of competing with the higher seed throughout this series. I’ll take this game to go down to the wire, no matter who ends up winning it and advancing to the second round to face either the Detroit Pistons or Orlando Magic.
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