After absorbing losses on the road in Games 3 and 4, the Cavs are tied 2-2 with the Toronto Raptors in their best-of-seven first-round NBA playoff series.
The fourth-seeded Cavs have home-court advantage against the fifth-seeded Raptors, so Game 5 is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, in Cleveland. The series will shift back to Canada for Game 6 on Friday, May 1, and then return to Cleveland on Sunday, May 3, if Game 7 is necessary.
Here are Game 5 predictions from Beacon Journal writers Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich:
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) loses possession of the ball battling against Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (19) and forward Scottie Barnes (4) during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Q&A
What is the schedule for Game 5 of the Cavs vs Raptors playoff series?
Game 5 is set to begin on April 29 at 7:30 p.m. in Cleveland.
What is the current series score between the Cavaliers and Raptors?
The series is currently tied 2-2 after the Cavaliers lost Games 3 and 4.
Where will Game 6 of the Cavs vs Raptors series be played?
Game 6 will be played in Toronto on May 1.
What happens if the Cavs and Raptors series goes to Game 7?
If necessary, Game 7 will return to Cleveland on May 3.
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Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) dunks for a basket against the Toronto Raptors during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (19) reaches to block a shot from Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
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Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors NBA playoffs Game 4 photos
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) loses possession of the ball battling against Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (19) and forward Scottie Barnes (4) during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
1 / 3
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors NBA playoffs Game 4 photos
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) loses possession of the ball battling against Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (19) and forward Scottie Barnes (4) during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
2 / 3
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors NBA playoffs Game 4 photos
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) dunks for a basket against the Toronto Raptors during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
3 / 3
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors NBA playoffs Game 4 photos
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (19) reaches to block a shot from Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Cavs vs Raptors Game 5 predictions
Lewis: The Cavaliers have looked terrific at home and abysmal on the road thus far. Thankfully for them, Game 5 happens to be scheduled for Rocket Arena, which is in fact where they play their home games.
The Cavs do still have home-court advantage, but their poor showing north of the border has not only sliced away a great deal of margin of error, it has placed an immense importance on those home-away trends continuing in Game 5.
Donovan Mitchell cannot again miss 18 shots in a single game. James Harden cannot again turn the ball over 7-8 times. Jarrett Allen probably cannot again be held to only one field goal. Evan Mobley cannot again be pushed around by Collin Murray-Boyles and others inside the paint to the same degree. The list goes on.
Still, recenct bias aside, the Cavs have the advantage with firepower on paper. Hopefully for Cleveland and Toronto fans, the shooting performances from Game 4 on both sides are left behind and buried six feet under the Earth's surface, and this series returns to a great matchup between Mitchell/Harden and Scottie Barnes/Brandon Ingram.
Again in the comfy confines of Rocket Arena, I'll take the Cavs to regroup, rebound and regain control of this runaway train of a series that seems decided by location as much as anything. Cavaliers 114, Raptors 109.
Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes, right, reacts after center Jakob Poeltl scored a basket and earned a foul call against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game 4 of an NBA first-round playoff series April 26, 2026, in Toronto, Ontario.
Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes, right, reacts after center Jakob Poeltl scored a basket and earned a foul call against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game 4 of an NBA first-round playoff series April 26, 2026, in Toronto, Ontario.
Two years ago, the Cavs met the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs. The Cavs were the No. 4 seed, and the Magic were the No. 5 seed. The Cavs had home-court advantage and needed every bit of it to advance to Round 2. The Cavs won the series in seven games, with the home team prevailing each time.
Let the record show an initial gut feeling led to a Cavs-Raptors series prediction of Cleveland winning in seven games.
In the interest of full disclosure, though, Games 1 and 2 in Cleveland lulled this prognosticator into believing the Cavs could win the series in fewer than seven games. Then the Toronto experience occurred, smacking everyone in the face with the reality of Clevelandâs postseason road woes.
This is a guess the trend of home dominance will continue. Cavs 116, Raptors 105