The Toronto Raptors visit the Cleveland Cavaliers in game 2 of their basketball gambling series. The Cavs shook off the sluggishness that characterized their series against the Pacers and breezed past the Raps 116-105 in game 1 on Monday. Toronto combined two playoff traditions by losing a series opener and getting routed by Cleveland. The Raptors upgraded their roster with Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker but still appear to be no match for the current reigning and defending NBA champions. The Cavs could even afford to blow an 18-point lead in the first half.
Time: 7:05 PM
Venue: Quicken Loans Arena
Sportsbook NBA online betting odds:
Raptors +7½ (-110) 213½ (-110) +285
Cavaliers -7½ (-110) 213½ (-110) -345
Toronto
Key players: Kyle Lowry scored 20 points and DeMar DeRozan added 19 to help pull the Raps within seven in the third. Lowry has had more points that shooting attempts in all postseason games with the exception of game 1 against the Bucks, and is averaging 15.0 points, 6.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game.
Recent form: The Raptors have won 16 of their last 21 games – including the last three straight against Milwaukee – and eight of their 11 on the road, but have lost six of their last seven meetings with the Cavs.
NBA online betting odds trends: Similarly, Toronto has covered the spread in four of their last six road games but only in two of their last seven encounters with Cleveland. The basketball gambling total has gone under in four of the Raptors’ last five on the road.
Cleveland
Key players: LeBron James had 35 points, including a spree of three-point plays in the third to quash a Raptors rally. The King also channeled his inner Steve Austin and grabbed a celebratory beer, though he didn’t drink it. “I’m not a beer guy,” he said. “If [the beer lady] had some red wine I would have probably taken a sip.” Don’t we have fancy taste? James is 25 points shy of passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for second place on the league’s postseason scoring list, and two treys to join Ray Allen, Reggie Miller, and Manu Ginobili as the only players to hit 300 playoffs three-pointers. Additionally, he has scored at least 30 points in 88 postseason games, tying with Kobe for second behind MJ. The King has officially switched to playoff mode.
Recent form: The Cavs have won their last five straight games and six of their last eight at home, as well as seven of the last eight hosting the Raps.
NBA online betting odds trends: Cleveland is 2-3-1 against the spread in the last six games and 1-4 ATS in the last five at the Q, but they have covered in five of the last seven times they have received the Raptors. The basketball gambling total has gone over in four of the Cavs’ five games, in eight of the Cleveland’s last nine home games, and in four of the Cavaliers’ last six visits by the Raps.