The Cleveland Cavaliers are all in after their blockbuster swing for James Harden. The Toronto Raptors are an ascendant group still searching for their authenticating moment. The first round of the NBA playoffs typically shines around narrow No. 4 seed versus No. 5 seed matchups, and this year’s Eastern Conference offering looks eminently watchable.
There’s a cool balance to the series. Cleveland was No. 4 in points per game this season, while Toronto was No. 5 in defensive rating. The Cavaliers are headlined by two established stars in search of overdue playoff breakthroughs. The Raptors are younger and far greener in postseason play.
Tracing from “East 1999″ to “The 6,” a Cleveland-Toronto postseason pairing has a lot of soul to it. Here’s what you need to know and when to tune in.
How to watch No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Toronto Raptors
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GameDateTime (ET)TVStream
1: @ CLE
Sat., April 18
1 p.m.
Prime Video
Prime Video
2: @ CLE
Mon., April 20
7 p.m.
Peacock,
NBCSN
Peacock
3: @ TOR
Thu., April 23
8 p.m.
Prime Video
Prime Video
4: @ TOR
Sun., April 26
1 p.m.
ESPN
5*: @ CLE
Wed., April 29
TBD
TBD
TBD
6*: @ TOR
Fri., May 1
TBD
TBD
TBD
7*: @ CLE
Sun., May 3
TBD
TBD
TBD
* if necessary
ESPN broadcasts are also available with an ESPN Unlimited subscription.
What to know about the Cavs
Cleveland is in the bracket for a fourth straight year, and it comes in with an impressive 52-30 record. But this has been one long, strange campaign for Kenny Atkinson’s crew. After they won 64 games in 2024-25, the current Cavs were just 19-16 on New Year’s Day.
Then came their stunner — they traded Darius Garland, the team’s No. 5 pick in 2019 and a two-time All-Star, for Harden, a well-traveled former MVP. The wine and gold responded with a sharp 18-9 mark post-All-Star break.
Across 26 Cavaliers starts, Harden averaged 20.5 points on 46.6/43.5/84 percent shooting splits. He also put up 7.7 assists to 3.2 turnovers per game. The 36-year-old has been effective with his sixth team, ranking in the 96 percentile in points per shot attempt on Cleaning The Glass. He brings a sizable history of playoff stumbles, chokes and disappearances as well. Floodlights are fixed on Harden after Cleveland’s win-now deadline deal.
The offense is still led by Donovan Mitchell. He finished at 27.9 points per game, seventh-best in the league. Mitchell’s career playoff scoring average of 28.3 points is also good for seventh-best, entering just short of LeBron James and Kevin Durant on the all-time list. The Cavs defense is anchored by its frontcourt duo, pogo-stick forward Evan Mobley and brick-wall center Jarrett Allen.
Cleveland is a team of focal points — Harden and Mitchell initiate possessions, Mobley and Allen direct the stops.
What to know about the Raptors
Toronto counters with full-court aggression and generous ball movement. Under Darko Rajaković, the Raptors led the league in fast-break scoring, ranked third in assists and fourth in deflections. While their opponents won 12 fewer games than they did last season, these Raps notched 46 Ws compared to just 30 the year prior.
Four of Toronto’s players scored between 16-21 points per game during the regular season. The elastic Brandon Ingram creates looks for himself. Versatile Scottie Barnes was above 50 percent from the field while he racked up assists, steals and blocks. RJ Barrett made 57.2 percent of his 2-pointers, a new personal high. Immanuel Quickley recorded a career-best effective field goal rate, though he’s battling a hamstring issue and is considered day to day, according to The Athletic’s Eric Koreen.
The Raptors offense is hot — shooting splits around 50/36 percent in March, then 53/41 in April. But the team went 11-11 in that stretch. It largely struggled against top-line competition, too. The Dinos don’t seem content with merely being ahead of schedule, and they’d send a roaring message with a first-round upset of their starry opponents.
Head-to-head matchups this season
Toronto went 3-0. In an NBA scheduling oddity, the Cavs-Raps season series was done by late November, long before Cleveland added Harden. Ingram dropped 37 points on 30 shots in the most recent meeting. Mitchell went just 6-for-20 and 3-for-15 beyond the arc.
Cavs vs. Raptors playoff history
Cleveland bounced Toronto from three consecutive playoffs (2016-18). The last two were clean sweeps. Those were the “LeBronto” years. The North seeks new-era revenge this spring.
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