Cavaliers vs. Raptors Prediction, Picks for Saturday, Feb. 10
Here's everything you need to know about Cavaliers vs. Raptors on Saturday, Feb. 10 — our expert prediction and betting picks for today.
The Cavaliers have lost just one game since New Year's Day, but the team that defeated them on that occasion will be the one standing opposite them on Saturday evening in Saturday. Can Cleveland catch a tired Raptors team slacking on the second night of a back-to-back and continue its brilliant run, or will Toronto's newly-constructed roster continue to trend upwards?
Let's get to our Cavaliers vs. Raptors prediction and pick.
Cavaliers vs. Raptors Prediction
Pick: Over 230 (-110)
Cavaliers Betting Outlook
The Cavaliers have had one of the best defenses in the NBA for the last couple of seasons, but what's put them over the top so far this season has been their offense. Evan Mobley has taken a massive step forward on that end of the floor to turn this into a multi-dimensional attack, and with that, this team has ranked sixth in offensive efficiency since the start of January.
During that time, Cleveland is scoring at the rim at a 69% clip and at 39% from outside according to Cleaning the Glass, both of which rank 13th or better in the NBA. It has had no issues getting to the rim and has put up plenty of shots from 3-point range, wreaking havoc on opposing defenses.
All the while, the Cavaliers have sat inside the top-five in defending every area of the floor and rank atop the league in points allowed per 100 possessions since January 1. Most of their opponents' shots have come from beyond the arc, and while they have done a bang-up job out there, it's also worth noting the Raptors have actually shot the long ball better on the road this season.
ESPN Bet is now live! Make sure you're ready for all the action with our exclusive ESPN BET promo code TANBONUS.
Raptors Betting Outlook
Toronto did debut Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett in a win over the Cavaliers on January 1 following the trade of OG Anunoby, but the numbers worth looking at here will really begin on January 17, when this team first played without Pascal Siakam.
Since that date, this team ranks among the worst five teams in the NBA in both offensive and defensive efficiency. It's no surprise that the majority of their shots have come from the most inefficient area of the floor, which is the mid-range, and this team has managed to get shots up from within four feet at just a 37% clip, which ranks 22nd in the NBA.
The only bright spot here is that Barrett has shot a blistering 39% from 3-point range since joining the Raptors, and by adding Quickley this team really improved its shooting from outside. Toronto sits sixth in the NBA since the Siakam trade in hit rate from outside, and have been able to exploit weaknesses on the perimeter even despite lackluster offensive numbers.
Cavaliers vs. Raptors Picks, Odds
| Cavaliers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Over/Under | Moneyline |
-9 -110 | 230 -110 / -110 | -390 |
| Raptors Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Over/Under | Moneyline |
+9 -110 | 230 -110 / -110 | +310 |
The Raptors have strung together some decent shooting nights over the last couple of weeks, including some against strong defenses, and their newfound ability to shoot could be what makes the difference in this game. If there's any way to score on the Cavaliers, it's certainly not in the frontcourt, so in that sense this should be a somewhat manageable matchup for the home team.
Toronto is just 3-6 on the second night of back-to-backs this season, and while I'd ordinarily love to take the points when being offered so many in what seems to be a salvageable game I don't think that's the best way to bet this one. Instead, I'm going to pivot to the over, which is 6-3 in Raptors back-to-backs.
Cleveland's offense has been far too potent for a poor Raptors defense to handle, but on the flip side I do like Toronto to keep up its hot shooting — even with slightly worse numbers in that regard at home.
Pick: Over 230 (-110)
