The Cavaliers fooled around in Canada and found out.
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.
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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 ImagesApr 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 ImagesApr 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 Images1 / 3Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors NBA playoffs Game 4 photosApr 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 Images1 / 3Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors NBA playoffs Game 4 photosApr 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 Images2 / 3Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors NBA playoffs Game 4 photosApr 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 Images3 / 3Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors NBA playoffs Game 4 photosApr 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 ImagesCavs vs Raptors Game 5 predictionsLewis: 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.
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Ulrich: The contrast of the Cavs at home versus on the road is giving a sense of déjà vu.
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 Cleveland’s postseason road woes.
This is a guess the trend of home dominance will continue. Cavs 116, Raptors 105
The Akron Beacon Journal sports department can be contacted via email at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors predictions for Game 5