Author: NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

The Toronto Raptors kick off the 2025-2026 NBA Playoffs, drawing the matinee matchup in their best-of-seven series against the four-seed Cleveland Cavaliers. This will be Toronto’s first postseason appearance since 2022.

In regular season games, Toronto swept Cleveland 3-0. While this is promising, all of those matchups were in a four week span in late October/early November making this the first time they’ve seen each other in almost five months. Both teams have changed since then.

Cleveland has had a rough couple of years in the playoffs. A gentleman’s sweep in each of the last three years was not the outcome they were looking for, especially since last year they were the top seed in the East. Now, they have retooled their roster to try and address their weaknesses and finally make the final push. This could really be a make or break year for them.

All season the Cavs have had their strengths, being a top-four scoring team at a rate of 120 points per game. Mobley and Allen are big and physical and help protect the paint on the defensive end. They are also both lob threats who can draw defenders when they dive into the paint to open up the rest of the floor for kickouts. Merrill, Harden, and Mitchell all excel as shooters, spacing the floor for bigs but also knocking down shots when open. This is a tough recipe to stop. Of course, both Mitchell and Harden will have to overcome the years of frustration they’ve both experienced in the playoffs throughout their careers.

Despite Cleveland’s strength, Toronto has already proven that not only are they capable of beating the Cavaliers, but they might be the best team for it. Let’s take a look at why:

1. Matching size

Mamu and Poeltl both have the height to take care of Allen defensively. Paired with CMB, Barnes, and Ingram to guard Mobley, the Raptors have the size advantage in most matchups across the board, even guards. There won’t be bully ball or a size advantage that Cleveland will be able to exploit, something they did frequently throughout the season.

2. Top-5 Defence

Even better than a good offence is a good defence. Finishing the season with the fifth-best defence in the league, the best way to slow down Cleveland is to stifle their offence. The Cavs won games through their opponent’s inability to keep up with their offence. Toronto has shown throughout the season that when they want to, their help defence and strong performances from Scottie, CMB, and Shead proved they can be really difficult to score on. Additionally, their defence forces a lot of turnovers that allow Toronto to get ahead. Scoring 20 points per game on turnovers (fourth in the league) and almost 19 points per game on fast breaks (first in the league), their defence generates a ton of offence for them. Their defence-to-offence strategy has been successful before

3. Ball Movement

There’s no shortage of highlights from this season of guys making the extra pass to find a better shot. A good shot becomes a great shot, and keeps their offence flowing. Their unselfishness on the court makes them challenging to guard, as help defence is scrambling, mismatches form, and then Ingram or Barnes can take advantage. Even passes under the basket lead to higher percentage shots, limiting the times they’re blocked as well. The potential is their for them, if they can tap back into that energy they’ve had at times this year.

4. The Bench

It should be no surprise to anyone that Toronto has the arguably better bench in this matchup. CMB has had a season that should earn him a spot on an all-rookie team, Mamu has made a case for sixth-man, Ja’Kobe has blossomed into a multi-level scorer that doesn’t shy away from big moments, and Shead’s defence looks unbelievably frustrating to play against. Gradey and Jamison have made good shots in the past, and if they can also contribute in this series, this is almost a second coming of the bench mob. Toronto should be able to win the bench minutes, which could be another difference maker in this series.

Ultimately, Toronto has all the tools they need to be successful against Cleveland, as long as the right version of them shows up. At times, frustrations over calls, injuries, and stooping to their opponent have all led to losses by the Raptors in very winnable games. If they can keep their composure and execute in tight situations as well, sticking to all of the things they do well, they have the ability to overcome the cavs and move on to the next round.

Where to Watch

Tune in at 1pm ET on Sportsnet

Probable Starters

Toronto: Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, Jakob Poeltl, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley

Cleveland: Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Dean Wade

Injury Report

Toronto: Immanuel Quickley (Questionable: Hamstring strain)

Cleveland: Thomas Bryant (Out: Calf strain), Tristan Enaruna (Out: Two-way), Riley Minix (Out: Two-way), Olivier Sarr (Out: Two-way).

The NBA playoffs are never short on surprises, and this year’s bracket is setting up to be an entertaining one so here are five bold predictions for the Knicks and contenders at large.

Minnesota upsets Denver

This lowkey postseason rivalry finds these two teams at a crossroads: Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets trying to maintain the vestiges of their 2023 championship mettle, Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves facing potential big changes if this core fails to build on its previous successes. 

Denver is favored heavily, with about a 70 percent implied win probability, despite a mixed year and tough foe.

There are more questions facing the favorites than the underdogs, though. 

Cameron Johnson has been an underwhelming addition, their rotation beyond the starting five is shaky, and they've lost to this team in a series before. Minnesota has a rising young star and the tougher supporting cast while the biggest knock on them has been their lack of effort at times -- not an issue likely to resurface in the playoffs. 

They’re pulling off the big first-round upset out of the West.

Philadelphia upsets Boston

Remember Tyrese Maxey’s last postseason appearance? It was against the Knicks, and he averaged 30 points, five rebounds and seven assists on 53 percent shooting from two and 40 percent shooting from three.

They’ll likely be without Joel Embiid this series, but with Maxey, the 76ers have a real shot at upsetting the Celtics. 

Much like the Knicks last season, they have their unstoppable lead scoring guard, the wing defenders to handle Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and are a bothersome offensive rebounding team. Boston’s had less than a month to integrate a post-Achilles Tatum and is relying on a bunch of young, unproven guys in their rotation. 

Maxey is ready to solidify his stardom in primetime, and can do so against a susceptible Celtics team. 

Jalen Brunson shines in the playoffs again

Maybe this isn’t so bold, but it’s now four consecutive postseasons of Brunson turning into Michael Jordan incarnate, and five straight of bloviators questioning his ability to lead a team on this stage. Spoiler alert: he has and can.

For those that need reminding of his resume: 72 points in two games taking over for Luka Doncic in 2022, 79 points in two elimination games trying to come back against the Finals-bound Heat in 2023, 42 points and 10 assists a game for four straight to beat the Sixers in 2024, and 29 points per game in New York's Conference Finals run last season. 

He’ll now have the benefit of a familiar roster, diversified offense and the best spacing of his Knicks career.

It may take a couple games to get going like in postseasons past, but expect more of the same once he turns it on.

San Antonio makes the Finals

Oklahoma City has been the league’s unimpeded juggernaut for close to two full seasons, but we may have found their kryptonite. It’s a 7-foot-4 Frenchman from outer space and his band of talented guards and heady role players. 

In fact, the Spurs are 4-1 in their season series against the Thunder, including their massive matchup in the NBA Cup. Inexperienced teams don’t often jump right into the playoffs and make a run, but this one is built to break that trend.

Knicks make the Finals

The oddsmakers, national media and fans are not banking on this outcome, but that locker room sure is. They’ve been preparing for this run since the early days of training camp, and all that work comes to fruition now.

It won’t be an easy path, and they’ll provide plenty of opportunities for doubt. But the advanced stats rate them as one of the best teams in the league, and the eye test follows suit.

They’ve been great outside of a bad 2-9 stretch coming off the Cup Championship, have beaten every contender between them and their goals, and are the hungriest team in the East. 

This is the Knicks' time, and they’re going to take advantage.

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Our NBA player prop projections are locked in for Saturday's highly anticipated first-round playoff opener between the Atlanta Hawks and the New York Knicks, with the model flagging some good opportunities to exploit.

These Hawks vs. Knicks NBA player prop projections aren't based on anything other than the numbers, and we've found the strongest edges and value.

Here are the model's top NBA picks for Saturday, April 18.

Hawks vs Knicks computer picks for Game 1

Hawks	Knicks
Alexander-Walker u20.5 points  -105	Anunoby o15.5 points -112
McCollum o3.5 assists -105	Towns o11.5 rebounds -105
Kuminga o9.5 points -120	Anunoby o4.5 rebounds -150

Hawks Game 1 computer picks

Nickeil Alexander-Walker Under 20.5 points (-105)

Projection: 18.63 points

Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker is a volume-dependent scorer stepping into a brutal playoff environment at Madison Square Garden. 

The New York Knicks' defense ranks among the league's best, and while NAW might land a few triples, he hasn't shown the consistency to regularly crack 20 points. 

At 18.63 projected, the cushion here is real, and it's a good idea to play the Under.

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CJ McCollum Over 3.5 assists (-105)

Projection: 4.25 assists

CJ McCollum is a natural playmaker who thrives in pick-and-roll situations, consistently making plays to cutters and kick-outs to three-point snipers.

At 3.5 assists, this line underestimates his playmaking ceiling, which is projected at 4.25 with an 80% hit rate.

The value is clear for something McCollum has done in six of his previous seven games. 

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Jonathan Kuminga Over 9.5 points (-120)

Projection: 10.69 points

Jonathan Kuminga brings explosive athleticism and finishing ability that make scoring at least 10 points a modest ask.

Projected at 10.69 points, he's shown throughout his career a capability to attack the paint and generate easy buckets in transition.

With an 80% hit rate and -120 juice, this is one of the sharpest Overs on the board tonight for a player who's scored at least 10 points in five of his previous six games.

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Knicks Game 1 computer picks

OG Anunoby Over 15.5 points (-112)

Projection: 16.86 points

OG Anunoby is built for playoff basketball with his relentless off-ball movement, elite finishing at the rim, and a mid-range game that's quietly become reliable.

The Knicks need him to produce, and 15.5 points is a number he's more than capable of eclipsing.

He's cleared his prop number in three of his past five games, averaged 16.7 ppg during the regular season, and we're getting a good price for Anunoby's NBA player prop.

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Meeting for the third time in four seasons on the NBA Playoff stage, the rivalry between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves is reignited as they clash in the first round of the Western Conference.

Nikola Jokic has consistently had the upper hand against Anthony Edwards and the T-Wolves, and with prediction markets like Kalshi providing a sharper, real-time pulse on betting sentiment, we’re diving into the latest Timberwolves vs. Nuggets predictions along with our top NBA picks for an electric Game 1.

Who will win Timberwolves vs Nuggets Game 1?

Timberwolves win probability:30% (+233)
Nuggets win probability:71% (-245)

The Denver Nuggets open as heavy favorites at 70%, backed by their proven ability to defend home court—especially in the NBA Playoffs—while the Minnesota Timberwolves trail at 30%, facing an uphill climb heading into Game 1.

Our prediction:Nuggets to win

Covers NBA expert Zak Hanshew states that: "The Denver Nuggets went 28-13 straight up at home this season and finished with the seventh-best Net Rating (5.6). Denver went 3-1 against Minnesota and gets the advantage of the fans at Ball Arena tonight. With the best player in the world in Nikola Jokic and a strong supporting cast, I'll take the Nuggets in a close one."

Read more in Hanshew's full Timberwolves vs. Nuggets predictions.

More Timberwolves vs Nuggets prediction markets

You're certainly not limited to the main game outcome for Timberwolves vs. Nuggets at Kalshi; you also have options to trade on the spread, total, and more, among other NBA odds markets.

You can buy either side of a market — for example, "Yes" on the Nuggets -7.5 spread means the Nuggets will cover, while "No" means the Timberwolves will cover — with each side priced based on the implied probability (which can be converted to American, Decimal, or Fraction odds using the Covers odds converter).

Timberwolves vs Nuggets spread and total at prediction markets

Our predictions: Timberwolves +7.5 — Yes and Over 231.5 points — Yes

The Nuggets enter on a 10-game winning streak, though they’ve covered the spread just five times during that stretch. Meanwhile, Minnesota has either won or stayed within this spread in two of the last three meetings with Denver, setting the stage for another tight, competitive matchup between familiar rivals.

Minnesota closed the season strong, hitting the Over in four of its last five games, while Denver did the same in eight of its last ten. With both sides nearing full strength, this sets up for a high-scoring battle in Mile High.

Other Timberwolves vs Nuggets prediction markets available

• Nikola Jokic Triple-Double (Yes: 55¢)

What is Kalshi and how does it work?

Kalshi is a federally regulated U.S. exchange where you trade directly on the outcome of real-world future events. Instead of traditional bets, you trade "Event Contracts" which are simple Yes/No questions like "Will the Nuggets win tonight?" These events are priced between $0.01 and $0.99, and the prices reflect the market’s estimated probability of that event occurring. For instance, $0.55 equals a 55% chance. If your prediction is correct, the contract pays out exactly $1.00; if not, it settles at $0. Kalshi is essentially a stock market for reality.

How does Kalshi differ from sportsbooks?

In a sportsbook, you bet against the bookmaker, who sets fixed odds and takes a "vig," which is a kind of commission. On Kalshi, you trade against other users. This peer-to-peer model means prices are driven by supply and demand, often resulting in fairer odds. Additionally, because these are financial derivatives, you can exit your position early. If your team takes a 14-point lead, the contract price will rise, allowing you to sell your "Yes" shares for a profit before the final whistle even blows.

Why should I wager on Timberwolves vs Nuggets at Kalshi?

Kalshi offers four unique advantages over traditional sportsbooks:

1. Flexibility: Unlike a "locked-in" bet, you can sell your contract at any time.
   
   
2. Transparency: You trade against other users, which can allow you to find better value.
   
   
3. Federal regulation: As a CFTC-regulated exchange, your funds are held in a secure, transparent environment.
   
   
4. Availability: Kalshi is available in 49 states (excluding Nevada) and D.C., including many regions where traditional sportsbooks aren't yet legal.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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Our NBA player prop projections are locked in for tonight’s thrilling Game 1 between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets, with the model flagging several high-value opportunities.

By breaking down the data and stacking it up against current market lines, we’ve identified where the strongest edges lie.

These Timberwolves vs. Nuggets predictions aren’t based on feel — they’re backed by the numbers.

If you’re building out your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Saturday, April 18.

Timberwolves vs Nuggets computer picks for April 18

Timberwolves	Nuggets
Edwards u26.5 points  -115	Murray u24.5 points  -105
Randle o6.5 rebounds  +110	Jokic o13.5 rebounds +105
DiVincenzo o2.5 3-pointers -130	Gordon o2.5 assists -120

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Timberwolves computer picks

Anthony Edwards Under 26.5 points (-115)

Projection: 25.4 points

As much as the Minnesota Timberwolves will rely on Anthony Edwards at his best, the Denver Nuggets have operated at the sixth-slowest pace in the league over their last five home games. That tempo should limit possessions for Minnesota and ultimately cut into scoring chances for their star.

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Julius Randle Over 6.5 rebounds (+110)

Projection: 6.9 rebounds

Grabbing rebounds against Nikola Jokic is no easy task, and Julius Randle will be leaned on to battle on the glass and limit second chances for Denver.

With the Timberwolves playing at the ninth-fastest pace in the NBA this season, he’ll look to capitalize on that tempo after going Over this 6.5 rebound line in four of his last ten outings.

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Donte DiVincenzo Over 2.5 3-pointers (-130)

Projection: 2.6 3-pointers

The Timberwolves rank as the sixth-most prolific three-point scoring team on the road this season, setting up Donte DiVincenzo for another strong showing from deep. He’s cleared this 2.5 made threes line in seven of his last 10 games and is well-positioned to do it again.

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---

Nuggets computer picks

Jamal Murray Under 24.5 points (-105)

Projection: 23.9 points

Opposing starting point guards have struggled mightily against Minnesota this season, shooting just 39.8% from the field — the lowest mark in the league — making this a tough spot for Jamal Murray.

Getting to the free-throw line won’t come easy either. Over the last 15 games, starting PGs facing the Timberwolves have averaged just 3.3 attempts per game, the fifth-fewest in the league, adding another layer of difficulty in generating offense.

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Nikola Jokic Over 13.5 rebounds (+105)

Projection: 14.08 rebounds

The Nuggets rank ninth in the NBA with 12.6 offensive rebounds per game over their last five outings, and Nikola Jokic continues to dominate the glass as their primary presence.

He’s gone Over this 13.5 rebound line in eight of his last 10 games and remains in a strong position to do so again.

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Aaron Gordon Over 2.5 assists (-120)

Projection: 2.9 assists

Aaron Gordon has quietly become a reliable secondary playmaker in Denver’s offense, clearing this 2.5 assists line in six of his last ten games by thriving within the flow of their half-court sets.

Against the Timberwolves, that role becomes even more important. Minnesota’s defense is built to pack the paint and crowd primary scorers, which should force the ball out of Jokic’s hands at times and into the hands of facilitators like Gordon operating in the short roll or along the baseline.

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How to watch Timberwolves vs Nuggets today

Location	Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date	Saturday, April 18, 2026
Tip-off	3:30 p.m. ET
TV	Prime Video, TSN4

Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

MORE NBA PICKS

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Charlotte’s loss to Orlando ended one of the most fun NBA seasons for the franchise since the days of Alonzo Mourning, Larry Johnson, and Muggsy Bogues.

Kon Knueppel was responsible for a lot of the cultural change that the Hornets saw this year, and he smashed the rookie record for three-point shots with 273, which also led the entire NBA. No rookie had ever done this before.

It would have been fun to see Knueppel and his Duke teammate Sion James continue the lovefest, but Orlando knocked them out of the NBA’s play-in tournament, 121-90.

However, while Knueppel and James and the Hornets are out, Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter will move on to play Trajan Langdon’s Detroit Pistons.

And in the other play-in game, the Phoenix Suns, featuring Grayson Allen, Mark Williams, and Khaman Maluach, knocked out Mike Dunleavy’s Golden State Warriors, 111-96.

So now the playoffs begin, and the Brotherhood is well represented. How well represented?

In the East, five teams have former Blue Devils, and in the West, there are five as well, so with 16 teams in, the odds are reasonably good that a member (or members) of the Brotherhood will get a ring this June.

The odds get a bit better when you see that San Antonio, Oklahoma City, and Boston are included in the list below:

• Orlando: Paolo Banchero/Wendell Carter
• Phoenix: Grayson Allen/Mark Williams/Khaman Maluach
• Oklahoma City: Jared McCain
• Los Angeles Lakers: Luke Kennard/Coach JJ Redick
• Denver: Tyus Jones
• San Antonio: Mason Plumlee
• Detroit – GM Trajan Langdon
• Cleveland – Tyrese Proctor
• Toronto- RJ Barrett/Brendan Ingram
• Atlanta – Jalen Johnson
• Boston – Jayson Tatum
• Philadelphia: GM Elton Brand

Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions || Drop us a line

He’s no longer a team player.

Shaquille O’Neal has put himself in a timeout from his fellow ballplayers — and doesn’t text any NBA star past or present.

“None. I don’t like athletes or superstars because they’re a–holes,” he told The Post.

“I denounced myself from being a celebrity about 10 years ago because those people are weird. I’m not weird.”

Even when Shaq comes to Times Square to visit the tech superstore tm:rw, which he joined as an investor and partner, he keeps it low key.

“Whenever I come, it’s me and two guys. No entourage. There’s nothing but homeboys coming in,” he said.

“We come in here, we take care of business … We sign autographs. We treat people with honor and respect … I want to be a regular guy.”

O’Neal, 54, also stays grounded and has never stopped hitting the books, and currently has three degrees — a bachelor’s of arts, an MBA, and a PhD in education.

Many people think he didn’t actually earn the Dr. before his name.

“The funniest thing I get is, ‘Oh it’s honorary.’ I say, ‘No, it’s not. I had to go to school and write papers and do all that stuff,” he said.

The four-time NBA champ, who has a net worth of $500 million, earned his PhD from Barry University in Miami in 2012 to set an example for his six children and his young fans.

“I’m very super successful without that, but I wanted to stress to my children and children around that education is very important,” he said.

The Louisiana State University alum — who left college after his junior year for the NBA, but went back to complete his bachelor’s — stressed the value of athletes getting schooled in business.

“We talk about the NIL [student-athlete using their name, image or likeness to earn money] what’s going on now. People always go to the money first, but you have to have the education on how to manage the money,” he said.

“So I want my children and those that follow me to say, ‘OK, he’s educated. Maybe I should do it.'”

Dr. O’Neal is currently working on a fourth degree: a master’s in liberal arts.

“I thought about sports psychology, but it was a little too much for me, the psychology field,” he said.

In addition to his multiple degrees, O’Neal can also add real estate investor to his resume.

A native of Newark, he made sure to stop by his former neighborhood during his most recent NYC trip.

He said the area has changed for the better, partly because of his investments — two residential high-rises valued together at more than $230 million.

“It was part of my vision because one day, me and my mom came back and it was kind of beat up, and she kind of had a tear in her eye, and was like, ‘I remember when this city was beautiful. Somebody needs to do something.'”

Although he played in the NBA for 19 seasons, the Hall of Famer’s favorite pieces of memorabilia come from his days playing with the late Kobe Bryant on the Los Angeles Lakers.

“I have a lot of Shaq and Kobe stuff in the house. It just brings back memories of the greatest one-two punch ever.”

When asked about the cons to being 7′ 1″ — the powerhouse smiled and said,

“None. When you’re this tall and this beautiful, it’s awesome.”

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Let the NBA playoffs begin!

It's an exciting time for NBA fans and bettors alike, as we have four NBA playoff games on Saturday’s schedule.

I’ve scoured the NBA odds and have found three solid NBA player props that should keep you interested throughout the day.

Read on for my NBA picks for Saturday, April 18. 

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
Nikola Jokic	Triple-double	+105
Nickeil Alexander-Walker	Over 3.5 made threes	+110
Kevin Durant	Over 24.5 points	-110

Prop #1: Nikola Jokic triple-double 

+105 at bet365

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double in three of four games against the Minnesota Timberwolves this season, including a 56-16-15 Christmas Day masterpiece. 

His "quiet" November game against the Wolves was still 27-12-11, which is all that’s needed this afternoon. Jokic leads the NBA with 34 triple-doubles this season and has averaged 35-15-11 against this exact opponent this season. 

Like most NBA defenses, Minnesota has no answer for Jokic, and getting plus-money for something he does nearly every other game feels like a good play this afternoon.

• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Prime Video

Prop #2: Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 3.5 made threes 

+110 at bet365

Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker buried at least three triples in all three regular-season matchups against the New York Knicks, hitting five or more twice. 

The Hawks guard averaged 3.2 made threes per game this season and drained 4-plus in 29 of 78 games on nearly 40% shooting from downtown. 

The Knicks come into the playoffs allowing made threes at a 38.1% clip over their final 15 games. We’re getting plus money on what is essentially his floor, which is exceptional value. 

• Time: 6:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Prime Video

Prop #3: Kevin Durant Over 24.5 points 

-110 at bet365

Houston Rockets legend Kevin Durant's two quiet games against the Los Angeles Lakers in March came with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves healthy, but both are out tonight, and it's all systems go for the Slim Reaper.

Instead of competent defenders, Durant will draw the likes of Jake LaRavia, Rui Hachimura, and Jarred Vanderbilt, which should make him smile. 

Durant has scored at least 25 points in four of his last five games and is fresh off a week's rest and fully motivated for his first playoff series with Houston. 

• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: ABC

These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.

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The first Saturday of the NBA Playoffs kicks off with Raptors vs. Cavaliers, and our NBA player prop projections system has crunched the numbers to deliver the top Raptors vs. Cavaliers predictions you need for this 1:00 p.m. ET start.

Our Raptors vs. Cavaliers computer picks and NBA picks for April 18 are led by Immanuel Quickley.

Raptors vs Cavaliers computer picks for April 18

Raptors	Cavaliers
Quickley o11.5 points  -115	Merrill o9.5 points  -105
Quickley o4.5 assists  +122	Mitchell u27.5 points  -115
Ingram u21.5 points -120	Mobley o16.5 points  -115

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Raptors computer picks

Immanuel Quickley Over 11.5 points (-115)

Projection: 14.7 points

Immanuel Quickley is projected to beat this line by over three full points, good for a +27% EV edge.

"The matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers is a strong one for 3-point shots; the opposition's starting PGs have compiled the 2nd-highest three percentage in the NBA this year (41.4%)."

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Immanuel Quickley Over 4.5 assists (+122)

Projection: 5.1 assists

With a nearly +21% EV edge, this Quickley prop is a four-star play.

"The Toronto Raptors will likely see a spike in opportunities today from squaring off against the 10th-most up-tempo tempo home team in the NBA over the last 5 games (the Cavaliers)."

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Quickley Now at bet365!/span

Brandon Ingram Under 21.5 points (-120)

Projection: 19.9 points

Our computer is bullish on Quickley but bearish on Brandon Ingram, expecting him to fall 1.6 points shy of today's betting line.

"This year, the other team's starting SFs have tallied 3.9 three attempts per game (3rd-fewest in the league) against the Cleveland Cavaliers, labeling this as a difficult matchup."

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Cavaliers computer picks

Sam Merrill Over 9.5 points (-105)

Projection: 10.8 points

Sam Merrill has cleared this line in seven of his last 10 games, and our system believes home court will help him reward Over bettors again.

"As it relates to scoring, the Cleveland Cavaliers's stellar 121.9 points per game with the home court advantage measures as the 2nd-strongest in the league over the last 25 games."

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Donovan Mitchell Under 27.5 points (-115)

Projection: 25.5 points

Our computer believes Donovan Mitchell won't have an easy time of things from 3-point land, which will lead to him falling short of his scoring prop today.

"The matchup vs. Toronto is a hard one for shots from behind the three-point arc; when the Raptors are the visiting team, opposing starting SGs have averaged the 2nd-least 3-point attempts per game in the league this year (4.3)."

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Evan Mobley Over 16.5 points (-115)

Projection: 18 points

Evan Mobley has gone Over this line in 14 of his last 19. Our system is calling for 18 points from the Cleveland big man, good for a +14.1% EV edge.

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How to watch Raptors vs Cavaliers tonight

Location	Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Date	Saturday, April 18, 2026
Tip-off	1:00 p.m. ET
TV	Prime Video

Not intended for use in MA.
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Welcome to one of the larger and more preposterous playoff preview power poll projects I’ve ever attempted. We are ranking the Top 50 players in the NBA Playoffs, an utterly ridiculous effort that is, frankly, not possible to do responsibly. There is no methodology so sound that one person can rank 50 people; there is no theory so ironclad that it can avoid the rampant, harmful subjectivity of the recesses of my troubled mind. So, without meaningfully explaining my definition of “Top 50” or a philosophy of value or any kind of scientific method, I’m going to do it anyway. Also check out our rankings of every team in the field by their championship chances.

In an effort to not make this a million words, I have only given the Top 25 (spoiler alert: it’s actually 26, you’ll see why) players their own blurbs, and then grouped the back 25 (spoiler alert: it’s 24) together in some loose categories that I think capture the spirit of the exercise. In any case, lots about this will be demonstrably wrong, and I apologize that there is absolutely no way to avoid that. Onwards! 

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Made up award: The 2019 Carsen Edwards vs. Virginia “That shot is just going in” Award 

The best player in the world until someone else feels sufficiently inevitable with the ball in their hands. Shai has achieved peak scoring excellence in that you just think his shot is always going in, and he scores at a volume, efficiency and location (over 77 percent of his shots are twos and he shoots 55.3 percent from the field … he’s a guard!) that simply shouldn’t be possible. He has the belt. 

2. Nikola Jokic

Made up award: The Novak Djokovic Lifetime Achievement Award for Serbian Sports Excellence 

I debated whether Jokic or Victor Wembanyama would get the second spot, but their majestic head-to-head battle clinched it for the Joker. The San Antonio Spurs are contenders for a number of reasons, the biggest (and tallest) one being Wemby. The Denver Nuggets are contenders for one reason and one reason only: Jokic, who could enter some seriously hallowed all-time ground if he grabs a second ring in a stacked West. 

3. Victor Wembanyama

Made up award: Voted “Most likely to record a quadruple double in the playoffs”

Wemby and his precarious health have been treated carefully this year to maximize his impact and longevity, but the kid gloves are going to have to come off eventually. When they do, he’s such an outlier that I would believe any statistical achievement if he plays 43 minutes. There have only been four quadruple doubles in NBA history, and yet I’d somehow be surprised if he wasn’t the fifth.

4. Luka Doncic

Made up award: The Bitcoin Award for Player Who Can Swing the Market the Most

Luka’s availability after an unbelievably poorly timed hamstring injury is the great question mark of these playoffs. If he can return, and actually be Luka Doncic, before the Lakers are eliminated? It’s a whole new ballgame for everyone. 

5. Anthony Edwards

Made up award:The John Henry Award for Potentially Having to Dig a Tunnel through a Mountain

Edwards is everyone’s favorite young player who might be the next Michael Jordan — he’s electrifying and displays two-way brilliance that is rare for the modern scoring guard. But he has his work positively cut out for him in these playoffs, needing to shake off some late-season injuries and then probably beat Denver, San Antonio and OKC all in a row just to make the NBA Finals. Best of luck.

6. Donovan Mitchell

Made up award: The Ralph Fiennes “We need to get this guy an Oscar” Award

This is a guy who has made the playoffs every year of his career but never made the Conference Finals, so fans are crying out for him to please get some hardware this time around. I’ve always been bullish on Mitchell as an elite playoff guy, whose highs are high enough to beat literally anyone single-handedly. But he will need to do that consistently for once to get over the hump.

7. Cade Cunningham

Made up award: The Cade Cunningham “so likeable that his injury might kill the 65 game rule” Award 

Everyone was so in agreement that Cunningham deserved to be on the All-NBA First Team that we all collectively freaked out about the 65-game rule to try to salvage his candidacy before he was granted an exemption (which is probably the best reason to kill the rule). Cunningham was the twin-turbo V8 engine that drove the Pistons to the number one seed, but may be leaned on too heavily to create shots with Detroit lacking a second scorer. 

8. Jaylen Brown

Made up award: The Captain Phillips “I am the captain now” Award 

Brown has improved his game in ways I simply did not believe were possible at this point in his career. With Jayson Tatum out most of the year, he proved he could be the First Violin in a world-class orchestra that’s about to go on tour. Truly a spectacular season for one of my favorite players.

9. Jalen Brunson

Made up award: The Second Round Pick Award for second-best second-round pick of all time

Behind only Nikola Jokic in second round pick achievement, Brunson is of course an elite first option, an elite shot creator and an elite foul-sponge, a critical skill in the playoffs with tighter whistles across the board. It’s worth wondering, though, if the Knicks can actually win the East with Brunson at this kind of usage. I think they can, but the rest of the roster will need to take on part of the burden. 

10. Jayson Tatum

Made up award: The Patriots-Falcons 28-3 Super Bowl Award for Best Comeback

Almost an unfathomably great result for Tatum, who tore his Achilles less than a year ago and now stands poised for his 122nd career playoff game and counting. He and Brown are two of the most successful playoff guys in terms of number of games played to start their careers, and Tatum is a championship-winning first option when healthy. We shall see how much strain he’s ready to take.

11. Devin Booker

Made up award: The Damian Lillard “You might need to demand a trade at some point” Award 

Booker seems committed to Phoenix financially and competitively, and it’s impressive work that such a flawed team made the playoffs. But the Suns spent all their draft capital and young pieces to build a team, tear it down and now is staring down mediocrity for the foreseeable future. There are plenty of ways to pivot around such a great player, but there’s a chance this gets 2021ish Damian Lillard. Just a chance.

12. Tyrese Maxey

Made up award: The Lightning McQueen “Ka-Chow” Award for Being Fast

There is no correlation between average player speed and… being a good player, which is why Maxey is my pick for fastest NBA player in lieu of data. This is purely in terms of visually explosive burst in transition and on drives. The Celtics have struggled to contain Maxey for years, and he is Philly’s singular win condition.

13. Kevin Durant

Made up award: The Al Horford “should we talk about how old this guy is more?” Award

Durant is still putting ball in hoop like no other in year 19 which is, somehow, still not discussed nearly enough. LeBron James cornered the market on “wow he’s how old” discussions, but Durant is casually averaging 26 a game in 36 minutes in 78 games played. In the playoffs, you often need a bucket. For all the stuff that comes with the Durant experience, he is still the bucket.

14. Jamal Murray

Made up award: The Jaylen Brown Award for scoring leap I didn’t see coming

Did you know this was Murray’s first career All-Star season? Somehow, some way, Murray became a far more efficient shooter this season and ratcheted up his scoring to over 25 a game. He and Jokic have a premier partnership that we already know can win a title. Will they win another?

15. Jalen Johnson

Made up award: The Casual NBA Fan award for “WHO are you saying is three whole spots better than LeBron?” 

Many NBA fans may have missed this development, but Jalen Johnson has been soaring up the superstar boards all season, basically getting better and better for five straight years … all the way to somehow looking like an All-NBA first option. Trae Young’s departure took off the training wheels, and now we’re flying.

16. Chet Holmgren

Made up award: The Banana Boat Award for going from Third to Second Banana 

Holmgren is a first-time All-Star who made a serious leap over Jalen Williams, whose injury-laden season saw Chet take on a bigger role. He’s a cornerstone defensive force and exactly what the Thunder need to dynasty this thing up.

17. Scottie Barnes

Made up award: The Eye Test Award for being better than your stats

Barnes’ Basketball Reference page doesn’t really suggest he improved much as a scorer, but he shot the ball much better and was a major part of a pretty spicy Toronto team that is looking to spoil some fun in Round One.

18. LeBron James

Made up award: The “Lock In” Award for potentially most epic lock-in

If LeBron James can carry the Los Angeles Lakers out of the first round without their two best scorers — Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves — that would be one of the premier lock-ins of all time. I’m a Celtics fan, but I’m going to be rooting for this.

19. James Harden

Made up award: The Lucy Pulling the Football Award for most consistent playoff disappointment 

Not generally the most reliable guy in the playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers nonetheless traded Darius Garland for Harden in a last-ditch effort to salvage their meh season. It could work; Harden is a good player. But nothing historically suggests it will.

20. Jalen Duren

Made up award: The “Most Improved Player Award” Award for exemplifying what that award is supposed to mean

Duren almost doubled his scoring output this season and was the second-biggest reason the Pistons took the league by storm. He is a dominating force on the glass and a pretty solid interior scorer, given his complete lack of a jumpshot. I’m a big fan of Duren.

21. Deni Avdija

Made up award: The Zion Williamson “I’m going to the rim no matter what” Award

Deni isn’t Williamson, who actually does not shoot threes at all anymore by the way, but he is at his best when he is trying to get downhill on every possession. He was a one-man wrecking crew in the first Play-In game, but we will see if that works against Wembanyama, whose 872-foot wingspan might cause problems.

22. Karl-Anthony Towns

Made up award: The James Harden “not sure how reliable this guy is” Award

Towns’ playoff plus/minus stats are not what you want out of your supposed second option, but it has proved difficult for the Knicks to keep both he and Brunson on the court and survive defensively. To avoid becoming the next Harden, towns will need a moment.

23. Alperen Sengun

Made up award: The Kevin McHale Award for 2020s Post Bag

Sengun is a legitimately great post scorer in the year 2026, and it’s pretty fun to watch him eviscerate rim protectors who haven’t had to deal with that since 1987. Balancing his and Durant’s shot diets is the real challenge.

24. Stephon Castle 

Made up award: The Jayson Tatum “he’s HOW young?” award for only being 21

Castle is so far beyond what I could have ever expected out of him at his age, and looks like a potential future star. To quote myself when I was talking about Roman Anthony, I am two years older than Stephon Castle. I am not old. 

25. Evan Mobley

Made up award: The Not-Tim Duncan Award for player who is not Tim Duncan

One of my favorite niche NBA media moments of the last five years was this strange series of Bill Simmons podcasts circa 2022 where he and Ryen Russillo kept referring to Mobley as potentially the next Tim Duncan. I was also supremely in on Evan Mobley, and have not quite made back my investment either. He’s a really good player and a beast defensively, but he’s been too inconsistent, especially on offense, to go any higher.

26. Derrick White 

(Bonus solo blurb, it was going to be the Top 25 get their own blurbs but I literally forgot about Jalen Brunson when I wrote this the first time and refuse to bump DWhite)

Made up award: The Matisse Thybulle Award for Blocking Threes

Derrick White has blocked nine threes this year. That isn’t quite the most, but he’s consistently up there in three-blocking, a skill that I’m just not sure how you teach or learn. Stuff like that is what makes White so valuable, because he’s also a great scorer and creator. What a player.

The “How healthy will you be?” Group

27. Austin Reaves

28. Jalen Williams

29. Aaron Gordon

Three players who are critically important to their respective teams that either haven’t been healthy for much of the year or may not be healthy going forward. Gordon and Williams seem fine at the moment, with Gordon in particular coming back in force, but none of their respective lineups are the same without them. Only the Thunder could hope to survive an extended absence of any of these three.

The “We need offense, do you have offense?” Group 

30. Paolo Banchero

31. Julius Randle

32. De’Aaron Fox

33. Amen Thompson

Four guys that have had up and down offensive years and four guys who will have to be on the up part of the up and down for the playoffs if their team has any big-time goals. Specifically, I’m looking at Randle as a primo candidate to sink or swim his whole team. Edwards can’t be the only creator for Minnesota, since Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels are not reliable offensively. Thompson may get exposed for his poor shooting, but is capital R required for Houston with their relative lack of ball handlers. 

The “Actually, we’re good on offense, can you just play defense?” Group

34. Rudy Gobert

35. OG Anunoby

Perhaps the two most important defensive players in these playoffs because of their matchups. Anunoby is going to have to guard some of the best wings in the league throughout the Knicks’ run, and the Eastern Conference might as well be a Wingstop with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Scottie Barnes, Jalen Johnson, they’re everywhere. Gobert, meanwhile, has Wembanyama and Jokic coming at him like a train. He will have to go full Tobey Maguire Spider-Man to stop them.

The High Variance Group

36. Brandon Ingram

37. Franz Wagner

These guys could score in bunches and swing a series by themselves or completely disappear and … swing a series by themselves. Ingram is a player that I wasn’t particularly interested in anymore after his Pelicans tenure expired, but he had a really nice year in Toronto and got back to the All-Star game for the first time since 2020. Both these guys are important bucket-getters on teams without an embarrassment of creators, so lock in.

The Guy I Couldn’t Put in a Group 

38. Joel Embiid

Embiid is a player I continue to feel bad for, and having an appendectomy right before the postseason is the worst luck imaginable for a guy who has had a career of the worst luck imaginable. I’ve tried to make this list relatively injury-agnostic, but I didn’t want to speculate at all for Embiid, whose playoff impact I can’t really measure or project whatsoever. So here he is in his own group, presented essentially without comment. 

The Bucket of Wings

39. Nickeil Alexander-Walker

40. Mikal Bridges

41. Jaden McDaniels

It physically hurt me to put Alexander-Walker this low since he has more than doubled his scoring this season and is unironically shooting 50-40-90 Bridges and McDaniels are both critical players for their teams, but just feel like a lesser version of what they could be; especially Bridges, who was a legit first-option in Brooklyn for a minute there. But wings are king, and these guys will play a lot. 

Important Players on Important Teams

42. Ausar Thompson

43. Jarrett Allen

44. Alex Caruso

A bit of a grab bag here, but these are essential players on teams with championship aspirations. Ausar is definitely still a work in progress offensively but he is also one of the best defensive players in the league, an accolade you could also toss on Caruso, a peak pot-stirrer that somehow makes all of his opponents worse at basketball. Allen, meanwhile, is battling a knee injury but is a massive non-negotiable for the Cavs given how small the rest of their lineup is.

The X-Factors

45. Dyson Daniels

46. Jrue Holiday

47. Naz Reid

48. Payton Pritchard

49. Isaiah Hartenstein

Quite the collection of dudes here, all of whom could be described as “oh (insert name from this group), I really like that guy.” They all play pretty different games, but their teams would not be the same without them.

Flex Category

50. Dillon Brooks/Paul George/Peyton Watson/Cason Wallace/RJ Barrett/Donovan Clingan/Desmond Bane/whoever else you want

It’s pretty funny that in a Top 50 players list I had a pretty easy time coming up with the Top 49 but really couldn’t pick the last guy in. This is basically the free space in bingo; just put whoever you want here. I, for one, really wanted to put Baylor Scheierman or Neemias Queta here, but decided against it. Let me know in the comments who you’d put at 50, and what I messed up. If everyone just agrees with me, something went horribly wrong.