Raptors vs Cavaliers Prediction, Picks & Odds for NBA Playoffs Game 5

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The Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors nearly solved the housing crisis with the number of bricks produced in their most recent matchup.

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Toronto somehow emerged on the right side of an ugly rock fight this past weekend, sending the series back to Cleveland for Game 5 tied at 2-2.

R.J. Barrett was among several players who finished below his scoring total in Game 4, but our Raptors vs. Cavaliers predictions aren’t quick to discount him after a bad day at the office.

My NBA picks bank on Barrett to bounce back Wednesday night.

Raptors vs Cavaliers prediction

Raptors vs Cavaliers best bet: RJ Barrett Over 19.5 Points (-105)

Before the depressing display of shooting from both sides in Game 4, RJ Barrett was the Toronto Raptors’ most efficient scorer.

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Barrett was shooting a collective 64.4% through the first three games while posting outputs of 22, 24, and 33 points — all playing Over his respective points prop totals. Then came Sunday.

The Canadian guard finished with 18 points on 8-for-22 shooting, but it was ultimately a 1-for-4 finish at the foul line that doomed anyone taking Barrett Over 20.5 points.

With the Cleveland Cavaliers mixing up their defensive matchups and throwing more attention at Scottie Barnes (drawing Dean Wade and Evan Mobley), Barrett’s 22 field goal attempts marked his second-largest shot total of the entire season.

Barnes’ usage dropped from 29.4 in the open three games to 23.0, while Barrett’s usage spiked from 25.6 to start the series to 28.0 in Game 4.

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Needless to say, a chilly shooting day left plenty of points on the table for Barrett, who draws a shorter scoring O/U for Game 5 despite that increase in offensive activity.
 
The shooting of both teams will come back toward the norm on Wednesday (god help us if it doesn’t), and with the Cavs putting the crunch on Barnes and Brandon Ingram still encased in ice (34% for the playoffs), Barrett will keep the reins offensively.

Game projections for RJ range from 20.9 to more than 22 points in Game 5. Prior to…

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Publish date : 2026-04-28 14:48:00

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