The Cleveland Cavaliers are unquestionably the best team in the Eastern Conference. The Toronto Raptors have a case as No. 2, and hope to put up a good fight when these two teams face off as the season gets rolling.
Toronto won 56 games last season and advanced to the conference finals before getting knocked off by the Cavs in six games. Each side has similar personnel, and the home court advantage should give the Raptors a shot at staying close or even pulling off the upset.
Don't miss the hardwood action from Air Canada Centre at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, October 28, 2016. Catch every moment of the game live on ESPN.
We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NBA Friday schedule.
Odds at BookMaker.eu
The Cavaliers came out like gang-busters in their season opener, knocking off the Knicks 117-88. The defending NBA champions are hoping to repeat and are heavy favorites to get back to the NBA Finals.
The Raptors may be their biggest adversary, but there is still a large gulf between the teams. While Cleveland won’t be a huge favorite on the road against a strong team, it should still certainly be the side to beat.
The Cavaliers aren’t going to be underdogs in very many games this season because of all of their talent, but the spread on this one should be closer than most of their matchups. Cleveland easily covered the spread in the opener against New York.
Player to Watch
LeBron James - The Cavaliers’ star forward captured a triple-double in the first game of the season against the New York Knicks. He finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists the 117-88 win.
James is a three-time NBA champion and a three-time Finals MVP. He led the Cavaliers to an NBA title last season, defeating the star-studded Warriors in seven games. The triple-double Tuesday marked the 43rd of the superstar’s career.
James continues to be at the top of his game, and is the biggest matchup problem in this game. The Raptors have a strong backcourt and a solid roster from top to bottom, but in the NBA, stars rule, and James is the best there is.
He will aim to continue showing he is the best player on the planet with a big performance against a talented foe.
Scheduling Situation
The Raptors will play their first game of the season in this one and it’s at home. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, started at home before making the trek to Toronto, albeit on three days’ rest. Cleveland will have to travel right back home for a game against Orlando on Saturday, so it’s a much tougher stretch for them than it is for the Raptors.
The Toronto crowd should be raucous as it wants to help its team pull off the upset. While there seems to be little doubt that the Cavaliers will eventually grab hold of the No. 1 seed in the West, the Raptors will aim to hold off the Boston Celtics and other contenders for the second seed.
Toronto has a team which should have good chemistry from the start of the season and hopes everything comes together in this matchup.
Free NBA ATS Picks
There is a reason Cleveland is already being penciled in for another trip to the NBA Finals. The other two consensus top teams in the NBA are in the West as the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs are also elite.
The Raptors are in that next tier, but they are not in the same conversation as viable championship contenders. Even on the road, the Cavaliers will assert their dominance behind James and Kyrie Irving.
Cleveland started the season perfectly and will keep it up in this game against the Raptors in Toronto.
NBA Basketball Odds: Cavaliers 103, Raptors 96
BookMaker.eu offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker.eu!
