Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors Game 3 Preview, Picks & Odds for Thursday, April 23, 2026

By Braxton Reynolds | Apr 22, 2026, 8:12pm

Game 3 between the Cleveland Cavaliers (2-0) and Toronto Raptors (0-2) is scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern on Amazon Prime. No NBA team has ever won a series after losing the first three games, so Game 3 is a must-win matchup for the Raptors.

Cavaliers vs. Raptors Betting Analysis

Cleveland torched Jakob Poeltl in pick-and-rolls during Game 1, and the veteran got off to a rough start in Game 2. Toronto benched him after only nine minutes of action for rookie Collin Murray-Boyles, but it still wasn’t enough. The Cavs scored 115 points and shot 53% from the field.

Donovan Mitchell and James Harden are forcing switches and generating paint touches with ease, and Evan Mobley is punishing mismatches. Toronto’s defense is simply out of its depth, so the Raptors must dial up their offense in order to keep this series competitive.

Brandon Ingram has to be more impactful. He shot 3-of-15 from the field in Game 2 and had more turnovers than assists. It’s a tough matchup for the All-Star, but trying to attack the rim more frequently is a nice starting point. Being more effective as a passer would also be a boon for Toronto’s offense.

The Raptors need to slightly increase their three-point attempt rate despite being a below average team in terms of efficiency because the status quo cannot match the Cavs’ dynamic offense. Getting hot from deep is Toronto’s best chance of logging at least 110 points. Sophomore Ja’Kobe Walter is crucial for this task. He went 3-for-7 from beyond the arc last game.

The best bet is taking Murray-Boyles to record at least 17 points plus rebounds. Given Poeltl’s nine minutes in Game 2 and how exploitable he has been this series, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him not suit up for this upcoming clash. Murray-Boyles has logged 18 and 24 points plus rebounds through two games, and he likely sees more usage in Game 3.

Cavaliers vs. Raptors Best Bet, Pick & Prediction

Best Bet: Collin Murray-Boyles O16.5 Points + Rebounds (-113)
Score Prediction: Cavaliers win 114-112

Cavaliers vs. Raptors Game Odds

Cavaliers vs. Raptors Game Information

Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026
Time: 8:10 p.m. ET
Network: APVO
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Venue: Scotiabank Arena – 226.1 ppg; 18-22-1 O/U
Series Score: Cavaliers 2-0

Cavaliers vs. Raptors Betting Resources

Cavaliers vs. Raptors Key Players

Cavaliers

Donovan Mitchell – Last Game: 30 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists
James Harden – Last Game: 28 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists
Evan Mobley – Last Game: 25 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists

Raptors

Scottie Barnes – Last Game: 26 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists
Brandon Ingram – Last Game: 7 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
RJ Barrett – Last Game: 22 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists

Braxton Reynolds

Braxton has been covering the NBA for Lineups since the 2022 season. He's worked with multiple collegiate coaching staffs regarding analytics and scouting, which has allowed him to understand the game on a deeper level. Braxton also currently writes about the Oklahoma City Thunder for Thunder Roundtable.