The Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers will meet in an NBA Cup game on Friday night in Cleveland. The Cavs are heavy favorites at home to start their cup campaign with a win. But the Raptors will be looking to pull off the upset and move ahead of the Cavs in their group. Here, I take a closer look at this group stage matchup and give you my Raptors vs Cavaliers prediction for this contest.
Our Raptors vs Cavaliers Pick
- Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers –6.5
- Confidence: ★★★☆☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Toronto Raptors @ Cleveland Cavaliers
- Date & Time: Friday, October 31, 2025, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
- Broadcast: NBA League Pass
Key Storylines
- The Raptors (1-4) enter this game on a four-game losing streak. Their offense has produced at a solid clip, but their defense has been porous. Toronto has been beaten by double-digits in three straight games and will need to perform better on both ends of the floor to avoid letting that streak continue.
- The Cavaliers are off to a 3-2 start. They have lost games to the Knicks and Celtics already this year, two of their biggest competitors in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is dealing with some injury concerns but they need to shake those off and deliver in a winnable home game like this one.
- Toronto remains undermanned inside with center Jakob Poeltl ruled out. That’s bad news against a frontcourt anchored by Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Allen and Donovan Mitchell are questionable for the Cavs. Sam Merrill, Max Strus, and Darius Garland are also out for Cleveland.
- The rebounding advantage for the Cavaliers could be what sets them apart in this game. They average 4.4 rebounds per game more than the Raptors so far this season. And with Poeltl out for Toronto, that advantage could grow even larger for the home team.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- This is the first of three regular-season meetings scheduled between these teams.
- Both of these teams are 1-4 against the spread going into Friday night’s game.
- Cavaliers games have gone under the total three times in five outings.
- Toronto has gone over the total in four of its first five games.
Best Player Props to Watch
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Scottie Barnes (Toronto) | Over 17.5 points |
| Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland) | Over 28.5 points |
Raptors vs Cavaliers Model Projection
Score Projection: Toronto Raptors 108 – Cleveland Cavaliers 120
Win Probability: Raptors 30%, Cavaliers 70%
Final Thoughts
Bettors may want to wait for injury news to come out for the Cavaliers going into this game before placing any wagers. The line could move drastically in either direction depending on whether or not Allen and Mitchell are able to suit up tonight. Without having that luxury, I’ll back the Cavaliers to win this game and cover the spread at home. They should be able to prey on the porous defense of the Raptors while the Cavs should dominate the glass with Poeltl on the shelf for the Raps.
