This pick was released to clients on May 03, 2024 at 10:21AM ET.
img NBA

Cleveland at Toronto

May 3, 2018
img6:00 PM Eastern
Premium Pick

A lot of people are going to over-react to game 1 that saw the Cavs beat the Toronto Raptors by a single point in overtime. It was the first time in 225 games, that a LeBron James led team, never led in regulation, but went on to win the game. Everything that needed to go right for Cleveland did. The Cavs are a turnover prone team, as they had previously turned the ball over 9 times in 86 of 90 games, but in game 1 a season low 5 turnovers. The 5 turnovers were the fewest committed by the Cavs in more than 2 seasons, covering 185 games. JR Smith scored 20 points, a mark he had met just 3 times all season, and just 1 time scored more. Kyle Korver dropped 19, something he equaled or surpassed just 8 times all season, and never did both Smith and Korver combine for 39 points in a game all year, in fact they combined for more than 30 points just 3 times all season prior to game 1. The Cavs were in a perfect storm, and despite all that, won by a single point. Number 1 seeds in round 2 and series game 2 off a home favorite loss in game 1 cover 67% in game 2, and are 100% SU. Make the play on Toronto.

1.5 units on Toronto -6.5 (-105) (risk 1.5 to return 2.93)
Result:
LOSS
Final
1
2
3
4
F
Cleveland Cavaliers img
26
35
37
30
128
Toronto Raptors
29
34
24
23
110
consensus consensus
odds odds
 
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