How to Stream Cavaliers vs. Raptors Live With Sling TV
How to watch the Cavaliers vs. Raptors First Round series in the 2026 NBA Playoffs with Sling, plus full live stream schedule, preview, and more.
The Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Toronto Raptors in the First Round of the NBA Playoffs, a series with high stakes for the legacy of at least one Hall of Famer. Games on ESPN, NBC, and ABC will be available to stream live with Sling. Here’s everything you need to know.
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Cavaliers vs. Raptors First Round Schedule: Dates, Times, and Channels
Here’s a look at the complete First Round schedule between Cleveland and Toronto:
#4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #5 Toronto Raptors
- Game 1: Toronto 113, Cleveland 126
- Game 2: Toronto at Cleveland – Monday, April 20 (7 ET, NBC/Peacock)
- Game 3: Cleveland at Toronto – Thursday, April 23 (8 ET, Prime Video)*
- Game 4: Cleveland at Toronto – Sunday, April 26 (1 ET, ESPN)
- Game 5: Toronto at Cleveland – Wednesday, April 29 (If necessary)
- Game 6: Cleveland at Toronto – Friday, May 1 (If necessary)
- Game 7: Toronto at Cleveland – Sunday, May 3 (If necessary)
* Not available with Sling
How to Watch Cleveland vs. Toronto with Sling
The first two rounds of the NBA Playoffs will be shared between the NBA’s 2026 broadcast partners: ABC, Amazon Prime Video, ESPN, NBC, and Peacock. (Note: Prime Video and Peacock games require a separate subscription).
- Any game on ESPN is on Sling. Watch with Sling Essentials (our new plan for ESPN & more at the lowest price on the market), Sling Orange, or Sling Orange + Blue. You can also watch with a 1, 3, or 7 Day Pass subscription.
- Games on NBC and/or ABC will be available with Sling Select or Sling Blue in the markets listed below:
- If you live in any of these areas, Sling Essentials & Select will get you games on NBC and/or ABC, plus ESPN games.
- Games on Amazon Prime or Peacock require a separate subscription.
Subscribe to Sling Essentials + Select using the link below!
Cleveland vs. Toronto Series Preview: Things to Watch
https://youtu.be/SoAzh3MvYc0?si=oU3EQsiXYGD9Wc5c
The No. 4 vs. No. 5 playoff matchups always provide an extra dash of intrigue, and many NBA observers think the series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors could be the best of the First Round. Both teams have reason to be confident: Toronto can point to their three-game sweep of the Cavaliers in the regular season, while Cleveland can draw inspiration from their 12-2 playoff record against the Raptors.
In the end, the biggest source of confidence comes from each team’s star players. In Cleveland, that’s the backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, who the Cavs acquired at the February trade deadline. Spida is the type of player who can erupt in any given game, while Harden has been adamant that his acquisition is mostly about exorcising the ghosts that have haunted his playoff resume.
For Toronto, their hopes rest on the broad shoulders of Scottie Barnes, arguably the best player to wear a Raptors’ uniform since Kawhi Leonard left for LA. Speedy and smart, Barnes is a “point forward” playmaker whose handles and defensive acumen make him a unique challenge for opponents. Combined with Brandon Ingram’s team-leading 21.5 points per game, the Raptors’ have the size to disrupt Cleveland’s passing lanes and second-chance opportunities.
Despite his overall 28-35 record in the playoffs, Mitchell is one of the league’s elite playoff performers, averaging 28.3 points per game, more than 3 points better than his regular season average. Harden, meanwhile, has a winning playoff record (90-83) along with a reputation for shrinking when his team needs him the most (in Game 7’s, he’s the worst 3-point shooter in NBA history, making just 22.4 percent of his shots). For the Cavs, it feels like this series is as much a battle against themselves as the Raptors. If Cleveland can pass the test, they could make a run to the Conference Finals and beyond.
Series Odds and Prediction
https://youtu.be/sYXtYOSi790?si=G6zv5cxPGbYTeGN6
Heading into the highly anticipated 4-seed versus 5-seed matchup, DraftKings Sportsbook has positioned the Cleveland Cavaliers as overwhelming favorites to defeat the Toronto Raptors. Currently, Cleveland sits as a massive -900 favorite on the series moneyline. Conversely, the underdog Raptors are priced at +600, which would yield a lucrative $600 profit on a $100 bet if Toronto manages to pull off the upset. In terms of the series spread, the Cavs are heavily favored at -2.5 games (-140). This means Cleveland must completely dominate and win the series in five games or fewer (a sweep or a 4-1 gentleman's sweep) for the bet to cash, while Raptors bettors at +2.5 (+115) simply need Toronto to push the series to at least six games.
Beyond picking the outright series winner, bettors can also wager on the total games played in the series, regardless of who actually advances. DraftKings has set the Over/Under for this Eastern Conference clash at 5.5 games. The Under 5.5 is currently favored at -150, suggesting oddsmakers expect a relatively short series that ends in five games or fewer, heavily favoring a quick Cleveland advancement. The Over 5.5 is listed at +125, meaning a $100 bet would profit $125 if the Raptors can stretch the series to at least six games.
Prediction: Cavaliers in six.
To watch Cavaliers-Raptors games on ESPN with Sling, use the link below to subscribe to a 1 Day Pass! Or to watch all NBA Playoff games on ESPN with Sling, subscribe to our new Sling Essentials service, with ESPN and much more!