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Cavaliers vs Raptors: 3 Shocking Game 4 Must-Win
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Cavs vs Raptors Game 4: Cleveland Looks to Bounce Back After Blowout Loss – Live Stream, Odds & Predictions (April 26)
Cleveland Cavaliers fans, take a deep breath. Your team had a rough Thursday night. After dominating the first two games of this first-round playoff series, the Cavs got absolutely hammered by the Toronto Raptors in Game 3, losing 126-104. Now, instead of a relaxing sweep, we’ve got a real series on our hands.
Latest News – USA Game 4 tips off Sunday, April 26 at 1:00 PM Eastern Time (that’s 10:00 AM for our West Coast folks) at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. You can catch all the action on ESPN or stream it live via NBA League Pass – and don’t forget to follow on Yahoo Sports for real-time updates.
What Just Happened in Game 3?
The Raptors finally looked like the team everyone expected. Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett each dropped 33 points, and Toronto went on a ridiculous 43-23 run in the fourth quarter to bury the Cavs. Cleveland? They didn’t have a single player hit the 20-point mark – a far cry from Games 1 and 2, where Donovan Mitchell and James Harden were lighting it up.
Here’s a wild stat: the team that leads after the first quarter has won every single game in this series. So if you’re watching Sunday, pay extra attention to those first 12 minutes.
The Injury That Changes Everything
Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley is officially out for the entire first round with a hamstring injury. That’s a massive loss for Toronto’s backcourt depth. Cleveland, on the other hand, has no injuries to report – a clean bill of health for Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley, and the rest of the crew.
Game 4 Odds (via DraftKings)
- Spread: Cleveland Cavaliers -3.5 (meaning they’re favored by 3.5 points)
- Moneyline: Raptors +145 (39.1% implied win chance) | Cavaliers -175 (60.9%)
- Over/Under: 220.5 total points
The line hasn’t budged much since it opened – Cleveland by 2.5 to 3.5 depending on the book. But if you’re into trends, here’s a juicy one: Cleveland is dead last in the NBA against the spread (35-50 ATS). Yikes.
Expected Starting Lineups
Toronto Raptors
PG Ja’Kobe Walter | SG Brandon Ingram | SF RJ Barrett | PF Scottie Barnes | SF Jakob Poeltl
Cleveland Cavaliers
PG James Harden | SG Donovan Mitchell | SF Dean Wade | PF Evan Mobley | C Jarrett Allen
What the Numbers Say
- Cleveland is 17-25 ATS on the road – not great.
- Toronto is 51-34 to the Under this season, third-best in the league.
- The Raptors are 22-20 ATS as the home team and 23-19 to the Under at Scotiabank Arena.
Our Best Bets (via Rotoworld & NBC Sports models)
According to the Rotoworld betting model, here’s where the smart money is leaning for Sunday:
- Moneyline: Cavaliers (-175) – the model likes Cleveland to bounce back.
- Spread: Cavaliers -3.5 – expect a focused, aggressive Cavs team.
- Total: UNDER 220.5 – both teams have trended toward lower-scoring games lately.
Want more? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports, or dive into the NBA Top Trends tool for every spread, moneyline, and total on today’s slate.
Series Results So Far
- Game 1: Cavaliers 126, Raptors 113
- Game 2: Cavaliers 115, Raptors 105
- Game 3: Raptors 126, Cavaliers 104
- Game 4: Sun., April 26 at Toronto (1 PM, ESPN)
- Game 5: Wed., April 29 at Cleveland (TBD)
- Game 6: Fri., May 1 at Toronto (TBD)
- Game 7: Sun., May 3 at Cleveland (TBD)
The Bottom Line for USA Fans
Look, the Cavs got embarrassed in Game 3. That doesn’t happen twice in a row to a team with this much talent. Donovan Mitchell and James Harden are too good to go scoreless in the 20s again. Expect Cleveland to come out angry, take an early lead, and cover that 3.5-point spread. Toronto will fight, but without Quickley and facing a pissed-off Cavs squad, their ceiling is limited.
Prediction: Cavaliers 112, Raptors 107 – Cleveland wins, covers, and goes home up 3-1.
*Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.*