BEST LINES:  Pinnacle -6½ -105 BET365 -6½ -110 SportsInteraction -6½ -110 5DIMES -4½ -105

Game 2 - posted at 12:25 PM EST.

6:05 PM EST. You’ll notice the odd start time for a weekday game so that the networks and the NBA can deliver the more market appealing Celtics/76ers game in prime time beginning at 8:35 PM EST. The Raptors/Cavs game was featured in prime time on Tuesday with an 8 PM start time and the city, country and arena were all jacked up to the ninth degree. The Raps came out gangbusters and had a 14-point lead through one period but from the second quarter on the Cavs chipped away and every single person in the country could feel it slipping away. Now the narrative is, “same old, same old” (meaning the Raps can’t beat the Cavs) and while we have our reservations about the Raps, there are some moving parts here that suggest they are absolutely the right play.

First, the market was turned off by Toronto’s inability to close out a game and its inability to hit a three-pointer when it mattered most. Toronto went just 9 from 28 from downtown while the Cavs hit 14 of 35. The NBA has become for the most part, a three-point shooting contest and if you disagree with that, look at the box scores. Teams’ are taking 35-40 three’s a game and the team that hits the higher percentage of triples has won 96% of all playoff games thus far. See last night’s Jazz upset in Houston? Utah hit 15 of 32 from downtown while the Rockets hit 10 of 37. Look at any box score and you’ll see the same thing. In other words, give us the winner of the three-point battle and we’ll give you the winner and cover a very high percentage of the time. It really is that simple. So, what makes us believe that the Raps will win that battle tonight? The answer lies within the updated series price, which STRONGLY suggests Toronto is going to win. The Raps are only +110 to win the series after giving away home court advantage in Game 1. We promise you that Cleveland will be favored in Cleveland in Game 3 and that Cleveland will be a 4½-1 favorite to win the series should they win tonight. That leaves the books very exposed it Cleveland wins tonight. If Toronto is just +110 to win the series down 0-1, what will they be if they win Game 2? Based on the updated series price after Game 1 (+110), Toronto would have to favored to win the series if they win Game 2, which would make them a rare series favorite going into Cleveland but an underdog to win the game. Again, the house would be exposing themselves greatly if Cleveland wins tonight but the lines say that’s not going to happen. A complacent Cleveland team not playing in prime time likely gets whacked here.

Please note: We have leans posted daily on Twitter and you can follow us there for leans, possible late plays or any other info we might have to pass along. 

Open an account today at Pinnacle Sports and take advantage of their -104 style pricing on sides and totals, which is 60% better than other sportsbooks.