The Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors nearly solved the housing crisis with the number of bricks produced in their most recent matchup.
Toronto somehow emerged on the right side of an ugly rock fight this past weekend, sending the series back to Cleveland for Game 5 tied at 2-2.
R.J. Barrett was among several players who finished below his scoring total in Game 4, but our Raptors vs. Cavaliers predictions aren’t quick to discount him after a bad day at the office.
My NBA picks bank on Barrett to bounce back Wednesday night.
Raptors vs Cavaliers prediction
Raptors vs Cavaliers best bet: RJ Barrett Over 19.5 Points (-105)
Before the depressing display of shooting from both sides in Game 4, RJ Barrett was the Toronto Raptors’ most efficient scorer.
Barrett was shooting a collective 64.4% through the first three games while posting outputs of 22, 24, and 33 points — all playing Over his respective points prop totals. Then came Sunday.
The Canadian guard finished with 18 points on 8-for-22 shooting, but it was ultimately a 1-for-4 finish at the foul line that doomed anyone taking Barrett Over 20.5 points.
With the Cleveland Cavaliers mixing up their defensive matchups and throwing more attention at Scottie Barnes (drawing Dean Wade and Evan Mobley), Barrett’s 22 field goal attempts marked his second-largest shot total of the entire season.
Barnes' usage dropped from 29.4 in the open three games to 23.0, while Barrett’s usage spiked from 25.6 to start the series to 28.0 in Game 4.
Needless to say, a chilly shooting day left plenty of points on the table for Barrett, who draws a shorter scoring O/U for Game 5 despite that increase in offensive activity.
The shooting of both teams will come back toward the norm on Wednesday (god help us if it doesn’t), and with the Cavs putting the crunch on Barnes and Brandon Ingram still encased in ice (34% for the playoffs), Barrett will keep the reins offensively.
Game projections for RJ range from 20.9 to more than 22 points in Game 5. Prior to Game 4’s black hole of basketball sorrow, Barrett had scored at least 20 points in nine of his last 11 games overall.
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Raptors vs Cavaliers same-game parlay
The Cavs are on their heels heading into Game 5, having let a chance to close out this series at home slip away in Game 4. Cleveland can still win, but Toronto’s toughness and defensive adjustments will keep things closer than oddsmakers expect on Wednesday. I'm taking the points with the Raptors.
With Immanuel Quickley sidelined, Scottie Barnes becomes the Raptors’ primary ball handler. His assists spiked when the PG was out at the end of the year, and Toronto’s poor shooting wasted 16.0 potential assists in Game 4, with Barnes registering only six dimes.
Cleveland is clamping down on him as a scorer, so Barnes finds other ways to influence the offense.
Raptors vs Cavaliers SGP
- Raptors +8.5
- R.J. Barrett Over 19.5 points
- Scottie Barnes Over 7.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: Nowhere to go but up
After both teams shot a collective 14-for-70 from beyond the arc in Game 4, the lid comes off the rim in Game 5. Barrett has made more than two triples in two of the first three games, while Donovan Mitchell still knocked down four 3-pointers Sunday — the third time he’s hit four threes in the first four games of this Round 1 set.
Raptors vs Cavaliers SGP
- Raptors +8.5
- Over 216
- RJ Barrett Over 1.5 threes
- Donovan Mitchell Over 2.5 threes
Raptors vs Cavaliers odds for Game 5
- Spread: Raptors +8.5 | Cavaliers -8.5
- Moneyline: Raptors +320 | Cavaliers -400
- Over/Under: Over 216 | Under 216
Raptors vs Cavaliers betting trend to know
The Cleveland Cavaliers have cashed in on the second-half moneyline in 30 of their last 40 games at home (+16.75 Units/19% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Cavaliers.
How to watch Raptors vs Cavaliers Game 5
| Location | Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH |
| Date | Wednesday, April 29, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN |
Raptors vs Cavaliers latest injuries
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