The Cleveland Cavaliers are all in after their blockbuster swing for James Harden. The Toronto Raptors are an ascendant group still searching for their authenticating moment. The first round of the NBA playoffs typically shines around narrow No. 4 seed versus No. 5 seed matchups, and this year\u2019s Eastern Conference offering looks eminently watchable.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a cool balance to the series. Cleveland was No. 4 in points per game this season, while Toronto was No. 5 in defensive rating. The Cavaliers are headlined by two established stars in search of overdue playoff breakthroughs. The Raptors are younger and far greener in postseason play.<\/p>\n
Tracing from \u201cEast 1999\u2033<\/a> to \u201cThe 6<\/a>,\u201d a Cleveland-Toronto postseason pairing has a lot of soul to it. Here\u2019s what you need to know and when to tune in.<\/p>\n How to watch No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Toronto Raptors<\/p>\n Watching in person? Get tickets on StubHub<\/a>.<\/p>\n GameDateTime (ET)TVStream<\/p>\n 1: @ CLE<\/p>\n Sat., April 18<\/p>\n 1 p.m.<\/p>\n Prime Video<\/p>\n Prime Video<\/p>\n 2: @ CLE<\/p>\n Mon., April 20<\/p>\n 7 p.m.<\/p>\n Peacock, Peacock<\/p>\n 3: @ TOR<\/p>\n Thu., April 23<\/p>\n 8 p.m.<\/p>\n Prime Video<\/p>\n Prime Video<\/p>\n 4: @ TOR<\/p>\n Sun., April 26<\/p>\n 1 p.m.<\/p>\n ESPN<\/p>\n 5*: @ CLE<\/p>\n Wed., April 29<\/p>\n TBD<\/p>\n TBD<\/p>\n TBD<\/p>\n 6*: @ TOR<\/p>\n Fri., May 1<\/p>\n TBD<\/p>\n TBD<\/p>\n TBD<\/p>\n 7*: @ CLE<\/p>\n Sun., May 3<\/p>\n TBD<\/p>\n TBD<\/p>\n TBD<\/p>\n * if necessary<\/p>\n ESPN broadcasts are also available with an ESPN Unlimited subscription.<\/p>\n What to know about the Cavs<\/p>\n Cleveland is in the bracket for a fourth straight year, and it comes in with an impressive 52-30 record. But this has been one long, strange campaign for Kenny Atkinson\u2019s crew. After they won 64 games in 2024-25, the current Cavs were just 19-16 on New Year\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n Then came their stunner \u2014 they traded Darius Garland, the team\u2019s No. 5 pick in 2019 and a two-time All-Star, for Harden, a well-traveled former MVP. The wine and gold responded with a sharp 18-9 mark post-All-Star break.<\/p>\n Across 26 Cavaliers starts, Harden averaged 20.5 points on 46.6\/43.5\/84 percent shooting splits. He also put up 7.7 assists to 3.2 turnovers per game. The 36-year-old has been effective with his sixth team, ranking in the 96 percentile in points per shot attempt on Cleaning The Glass<\/a>. He brings a sizable history of playoff stumbles<\/a>, chokes<\/a> and disappearances<\/a> as well. Floodlights are fixed on Harden after Cleveland\u2019s win-now deadline deal.<\/p>\n The offense is still led by Donovan Mitchell. He finished at 27.9 points per game, seventh-best in the league. Mitchell\u2019s career playoff scoring average of 28.3 points is also good for seventh-best, entering just short of LeBron James and Kevin Durant on the all-time list. The Cavs defense is anchored by its frontcourt duo, pogo-stick forward Evan Mobley and brick-wall center Jarrett Allen.<\/p>\n Cleveland is a team of focal points \u2014 Harden and Mitchell initiate possessions, Mobley and Allen direct the stops.<\/p>\n What to know about the Raptors<\/p>\n Toronto counters with full-court aggression and generous ball movement. Under Darko Rajakovi\u0107, the Raptors led the league in fast-break scoring, ranked third in assists and fourth in deflections. While their opponents won 12 fewer games than they did last season, these Raps notched 46 Ws compared to just 30 the year prior.<\/p>\n Four of Toronto\u2019s players scored between 16-21 points per game during the regular season. The elastic Brandon Ingram creates looks for himself. Versatile Scottie Barnes was above 50 percent from the field while he racked up assists, steals and blocks. RJ Barrett made 57.2 percent of his 2-pointers, a new personal high. Immanuel Quickley recorded a career-best effective field goal rate, though he\u2019s battling a hamstring issue and is considered day to day, according to The Athletic\u2019s Eric Koreen<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Raptors offense is hot \u2014 shooting splits around 50\/36 percent in March, then 53\/41 in April. But the team went 11-11 in that stretch. It largely struggled against top-line competition, too. The Dinos don\u2019t seem content<\/a> with merely being ahead of schedule, and they\u2019d send a roaring message with a first-round upset of their starry opponents.<\/p>\n Head-to-head matchups this season<\/p>\n Toronto went 3-0. In an NBA scheduling oddity, the Cavs-Raps season series was done by late November, long before Cleveland added Harden. Ingram dropped 37 points on 30 shots in the most recent meeting. Mitchell went just 6-for-20 and 3-for-15 beyond the arc.<\/p>\n Cavs vs. Raptors playoff history<\/p>\n
NBCSN<\/p>\n