Cleveland Cavaliers at Toronto Raptors (+6, 197)

Cavaliers lead series 2-1

Everybody was writing off the Toronto Raptors once they lost the primary two games of the Eastern Conference finals by a regular of 25 points. Toronto countered with an exceptional Game 3 performance and aims to tie the series at 2-2 when it host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.

The Raptors posted a 99-84 home victory over the Cavaliers on Saturday once they limited Cleveland to 35.4 percent shooting from the sphere while center Bismack Biyombo was busy setting a franchise playoff record with 26 rebounds. "IT IS A long series," Raptors coach Dwane Casey told reporters afterward. "IT ISN'T over with yet, but everybody thought we were going to get swept. I FEEL that fuels us and if that is what it takes, so be it." The Cavaliers won their first 10 games of the postseason before Saturday's mediocre showing and forward LeBron James attributed the end result to a mix of Toronto's stellar play and his own club's shortcomings. "We didn't play our game, and so they made us pay for it," James said at his postgame press conference. "THIS IS A little adversity. Why not? It is the postseason, and also you lose a game. That is our first lack of the postseason. I MIGHT count it as a bit of adversity."

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

LINE HISTORY: The Rapors hit the board for this pivotal Game 4 as 6-point home dogs and, on the time of publication of this preview, the road hasn't moved off that number. The full opened at 197 and has also yet to transport. Take a look at the up-to-date and complete line history here.

MATCHUP CHART:

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (67-26, 44-46-3 ATS, 46-47 O/U): James scored 24 points in Game 3 but point guard Kyrie Irving (13 points on 3-of-19 shooting) and tool forward Kevin Love (three points, 1-of-9) both had awful shooting nights. Love, who didn't play within the fourth quarter, is averaging just 12 points and 4.3 rebounds within the series and said the next to reporters: "I felt like I USED TO BE slightly passive. From a mentality standpoint, it's a very easy fix." Irving averaged 26.5 points within the first two games before a woeful performance that included a 1-of-7 showing from 3-point range.

ABOUT THE RAPTORS (65-34, 51-48 ATS, 48-50-1 O/U): Biyombo has an increased role with starting center Jonas Valanciunas (ankle) sidelined and he averaged just 4.5 rebounds over the primary two games before occurring a board rage - including eight offensive - in Game 3. Biyombo set the tone by collecting 10 rebounds within the first quarter and had 16 at halftime as Toronto finished with a 54-40 rebounding edge. "I'm playing for my teammates, honestly, and for us it's just that we are going to play hard regardless of what, and we are going to play our game," Biyombo told reporters after Game 3. "I HAVE BEEN saying that since we started the series, and our game is to offer protection to the paint. And my job is to ensure that I protect the paint regardless of what."

TWEET BEAT:

TRENDS:

* Cavaliers are 1-8-1 ATS of their last 10 games following a straight up lack of greater than 10 points.* Raptors are 8-1 ATS of their last 9 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.* Under is 9-2 in Raptors last 11 games following a ATS win.* Home team is 6-0 ATS within the last 6 meetings.* Under is 22-5-1 within the last 28 meetings in Toronto.

COVERS CONSENSUS: Early Covers Consensus data is showing an incredible shift in public opinion. For Saturday's game it gave the impression of all of the world was picking the Cavaliers to win and canopy the spread however the current numbers are drastically different with only 54 percent thinking that the Cavs can cover the six points at the road. Total wagering is, pretty much, where it has been all series with 63 percent of Covers users picking the Over. View full consensus data here.

HOME COURT DANCE TEAM:

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