Cleveland Cavaliers go host Toronto Raptors for Rocket Arena in Cleveland this Saturday, April 18. This na Eastern Conference First Round match wey go start physical. Cavaliers finish regular season as 4th seed for East with 52-30 record, dem just miss top-three spot small. Raptors secure 5th seed with 46-36 after dem surge late for season, climb standings avoid Play-In Tournament set up this collision with Cavs.
Ticket prices for postseason don shoot up pass regular-season average prices. International travel for Toronto games add extra cost for fans wey dey cross border. Prices dey vary based on venue and stakes of game. For Cleveland Rocket Arena Game 1, entry-level prices start around $42. When series shift to Toronto Scotiabank Arena for Game 3, prices dey trend higher with get-in prices starting at $83.
When e come to Cavs and playoffs, plenty people dey nervous with reason. Cavs na No. 4 seed, Toronto na No. 5 seed. That usually mean these two teams dey closest for record and ability. For last 10 years, No. 4 vs No. 5 series dey tight and fit easily swing different direction if key player get injury.
Raptors get 3-0 record vs Cavs for regular season, but that one happen early for season. Last game na November. That time Cavs dey battered by injuries. Lonzo Ball (no longer for NBA) start two of those games for Cavs. Larry Nance Jr. dey that team. That Cavs team be before additions of James Harden, Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis. E also be before subtractions of Darius Garland, De’Andre Hunter and Ball.
That version of Cavs look like team wey fit miss playoffs. But since December, Cavs don go 35-14. Dem better equipped to deal with fast pace and pressure defense Toronto go unleash on Cavs. Toronto get uninspiring 22-30 record vs teams with winning records. Cavs get 27-24 for that category. So Cavs don play great basketball since calendar turn to 2026. Dem don better vs Toronto. Cavs also get home-court advantage.
Coaches dey worried. But dem dey paid to worry and create worst-case scenarios so dem fit prepare for unexpected. For Cavs, part of problem na dem recent postseason history. Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson don write “11-15” on team whiteboard few times this season. That na Cleveland playoff record for last three years. First-round exit for 2023. Two second round eliminations for 2024 and 2025. For that same span, only OKC and Boston get better regular season records.
Toronto get type of long, athletic players for 6-foot-8 range (Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes) wey don torment Cavs for past. Dem also get 6-6 RJ Barrett. These three guys fit bring pressure and some chaos to Cavs offense. Dem na key to Toronto leading NBA in points scored off fast breaks.
Ingram na one of NBA most underrated players, like Indiana Pascal Siakam. Drop am into any game anywhere and Ingram go score 20 points. Cavs get to figure out who fit guard am – maybe Dean Wade? Go bigger with 7-foot Evan Mobley? Immanuel Quickley get proper last name, given him speed at point guard spot. Him na hot/cold shooter but always play with plenty energy.
Cavs fit and suppose win this series. Dem big men (Jarrett Allen and Mobley) fit punish Toronto inside. That assume Cavs guards patient enough to get dem ball. Harden don get some playoff disasters. But him teams get 10-6 record for first round of playoffs. This na him 17th season and him don dey playoffs every year. Donovan Mitchell dey superb for playoffs. Mobley don dey play inside more often and with more force and determination.
Cavs na veteran team. That 35-14 record to end regular season no be accident. But I sense this go be like last time Cavs get No. 4 vs No. 5 matchup. That na for 2024, when dem face Orlando. Wetin happen? Cavs win, but e take seven games. And that na my prediction for this series.
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