Raptors Upset Cavs; Suns and Jazz Shine in NBA Action

Raptors Rolling, But Cavs Are Poised to Pounce

Don't look now, but the Toronto Raptors are finally showing signs of life. After stumbling out of the gate, they've quietly won five of their last six games. Unfortunately for them, they're heading into a buzzsaw tonight in Cleveland. The Cavaliers are 4-1 at home and looking to bounce back from early road woes. With Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley expected back in the lineup, Cleveland looks locked and loaded — though Darius Garland's iffy toe could keep him sidelined.

The Cavs come in as 7.5-point favorites, and that line makes sense. While Toronto's recent form is encouraging, Cleveland's roster is just deeper and more disciplined. The Raptors have been scrappy, but the Cavs are built to win games like this, especially at home. The total sits at a lofty 238.5, but with Toronto playing a bit slower lately and Cleveland’s defense tightening up with Mobley back, the under might be the smarter play.

Prediction: Cleveland wins by double digits and keeps things just under the total. If you’re feeling adventurous, a Cavs -7.5 and under 238.5 parlay could be a spicy same-game combo.

Suns Rising While Pacers Flounder

The Phoenix Suns are quietly heating up, riding a four-game winning streak and looking more like a legit playoff team than a fringe play-in contender. Tonight, they host a banged-up Indiana Pacers squad that’s still searching for its first road win of the season — they’re 0-6 away from home, and most of those losses weren’t exactly nail-biters.

Phoenix might be on the second half of a back-to-back, but that shouldn't scare you off. Indiana is dealing with a full hospital wing of injuries: no T.J. Warren, Jeremy Lamb, Isaiah Jackson, Goga Bitadze, and barely any T.J. McConnell. The Pacers are basically held together with duct tape and hope at this point. Phoenix, on the other hand, is well-coached and has been playing balanced, high-efficiency basketball.

The Suns are favored by 4.5 points, and that feels like a gift. Phoenix has been explosive offensively, and there’s reason to believe they can easily crack 120 against Indiana’s depleted defense. The team total over for Phoenix is a strong angle, and the game total over is also worth a look if you think the Pacers can contribute even a little on offense.

Prediction: Suns win comfortably, cover the 4.5, and hit the team total over. Indiana’s road woes continue, and Phoenix keeps climbing the West standings.

Jazz Looking to Jam the Hawks in Revenge Spot

Out in Salt Lake City, we've got a sneaky fun matchup tonight between the Utah Jazz and the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks are without Trae Young, which has oddly helped their defense — but taken a bite out of their scoring punch. Utah, meanwhile, is still one of the most underrated home teams in the league. They're getting 2.5 points at home, and that line is begging for attention.

Last time these teams met, Trae hit a half-court buzzer-beater to break Utah’s heart. The Jazz haven’t forgotten. With Atlanta playing at a slower pace and defending better without their flashy floor general, this game screams under. The total seems a bit too high given the context, and Utah’s crowd could give them the edge they need to grind out a win.

Prediction: Jazz win outright in a lower-scoring affair. The under is the play, especially if you expect Atlanta to run their offense through a more methodical tempo.

Player Props and Longshot Plays Worth Watching

A few player props are buzzing in the betting streets. Jakob Poeltl could be a sneaky pick for a double-double if Toronto can hang around in Cleveland, while Andrew Nembhard is generating interest for his points and assists line set at 23.5 combined. If you like upside, Nembhard’s been getting more usage lately and might be worth a look.

Elsewhere, Grayson Allen’s line is set at 19.5 for points and rebounds — a fair number given his hot shooting stretch. And for those who like to dig deep, USC’s Isaiah Collier is making waves with his assist prop at 5.5. He’s become a key playmaker off the bench for Utah and could pass his way into a nice payday.

For the daring bettors out there, one intriguing longshot combo includes Utah moneyline and Jusuf Nurkic to pull down over nine boards, which pays out at +172. That’s a solid return for a game where Utah may lean on defense and rebounding to get the job done.

Takeaways

• Cavs are the better team and should cover the 7.5-point spread against the Raptors, especially with Mitchell and Mobley back.
• Under 238.5 is a smart lean in a game that could be scrappier than the total suggests.
• Suns are a strong play against a depleted Pacers team; take the -4.5 and consider the team total over.
• Jazz are undervalued at home and have the motivation to get revenge on the Hawks; lean Jazz and under.
• Player props to watch: Nembhard over 23.5 points + assists, Allen over 19.5 points + rebounds, and Collier over 5.5 assists.

That’s the lay of the land for tonight’s NBA action. Whether you're riding with the favorites or digging for prop gold, there’s plenty of value on the board. Go get it, punters.