🏀 Raptors vs. Cavaliers Player Props: NBA Playoffs Picks & Best Bets for Game 1

Our Raptors vs. Cavaliers player props for Game 1 on Saturday feature James Harden Over 2.5 three-pointers made (-135), our top SGP & more.

Corey Scott

Last Updated: April 17, 2026 4:13 PM EDT • 3 minute read

Pictured: Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1), seen here standing on the court during a game, is featured in our Raptors vs. Cavaliers player props. Photo by David Richard / Imagn Images.

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📡 SBR Edge: Harden Makes 3+ 3-Pointers

My Raptors vs. Cavaliers player props for Game 1 on Saturday feature James Harden Over 2.5 three-pointers made (-135). He has attempted eight or more 3-pointers in each of his last three games against the Raptors. I wrap up my NBA best bets with Scottie Barnes Under 17.5 points (-118), as he has gone under this line in six of his last eight games.

🏀 Best Raptors vs. Cavaliers player props: NBA Playoffs Game 1

See all of our experts' NBA picks based on the latest NBA odds for the playoffs.

💰 Pick	💡 Best odds	⚖️ Bet size	🧠 Why I'm making this bet
James Harden Over 2.5 three-pointers made	-135 via BetMGM	1.35u -> 1u	Has 8+ 3PA in each of his last 3 games vs. TOR
Scottie Barnes Under 17.5 points	-118 via BetMGM	1.18u -> 0.5u	Has gone Under in 6 of his last 8 games

Total wagered: 2.53 units | Max profit: 1.5 units

💰 Best Raptors vs. Cavaliers prop bet

The Cavaliers have the fifth-shortest odds to win the NBA Finals.

James Harden Over 2.5 three-pointers made (-135)

Not only is Harden shooting 37.5% from beyond the arc this season, but he also gets plenty of opportunities to shoot 3-pointers when he plays the Raptors.

He has attempted eight or more 3-pointers in each of his last three meetings with Toronto, including 15 attempts the last time he faced it on Jan. 16.

If Harden attempts eight-plus 3-pointers on Saturday, we will likely cash this bet. Harden Over 2.5 three-pointers made is -135 at BetMGM, but I would be comfortable playing this up to -160 on the best sports betting sites.

🔥 More Raptors vs. Cavaliers prop picks

Our NBA playoff series odds break down the first-round matchups.

Scottie Barnes Under 17.5 points (-118)

Barnes has been underwhelming as a scorer lately. He has scored 15 or fewer points in six of his last eight games, including back-to-back 10-point outings from April 3–5.

He’s averaging just 11.4 field-goal attempts per game in April and has attempted 11 or fewer shots in two of his last three outings. Barnes Under 17.5 points is -118 at BetMGM, but I would play this up to -135 on the best sports betting apps.

Our C Jackson Cowart offers a best bet at +250 odds for this series in his Raptors vs. Cavaliers series odds.

🚀 Raptors vs. Cavaliers same-game parlay

With such a large spread for a playoff game, betting the Under on Barnes' points shouldn't drastically decrease the Raptors' odds of covering. Bet365 thinks parlaying his Under with Raptors +8 should pay +310 - I think it should be lower. FanDuel offers the same parlay at +284.

💵 Raptors vs. Cavaliers SGP picks

Raptors +8
Barnes Under 18.5 points

Best odds: +310 via bet365 (0.32u -> 1u)

💵 My betting record for NBA picks

All NBA picks, including SGPs, have been tracked since Feb. 10.

Bet type	Record	Net profit	ROI
Overall	113-135-4	-19.06 units ❌	-6.9% ❌
Player props	102-103-4	-20.49 units ❌	-7.9% ❌
Parlays	8-30	+0.08 units ✅	0.7% ✅
Spreads	2-1	+1.4 units ✅	35.9% ✅
Totals	1-1	-0.05 units ❌	-4.5% ❌

💡 How I'm betting Raptors vs. Cavaliers: NBA Playoffs Game 1 strategy

Follow all of our NBA analysis and expert predictions this season.

I risked 1.35 units on Harden's player prop because, while I like the bet directionally, BetMGM's price is too low compared to other sportsbooks.

I risked 1.18 units on Barnes' points prop because it has been cashing pretty consistently lately, but I would've been more aggressive if I could've found a 19.5. I would be willing to risk up to 2.5 units per bet if I believed the edges were larger.

🚑 Raptors vs. Cavaliers injuries: Game 1

📺 How to watch Raptors vs. Cavaliers: Game 1

Date: Saturday, April 18
Tipoff: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Rocket Arena (Cleveland)
TV: Streaming on Prime Video

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Written by:
Corey Scott

Corey is a Publishing Editor at Sportsbook Review and holds a diploma in Radio and Television Sports Broadcasting from the College of Sports Media in Toronto. He is one of the NBA player-prop specialists at SBR and focuses on the impact of injuries to identify where the market has been slow to adjust. Corey also frequently bets sides in the NBA, NFL, MLB, and CFL, typically using a top-down approach to beat the closing line. His work has appeared across the USA Today Network, Gambling.com Group, and Athlon Sports. With more than a decade of sports betting experience, Corey is familiar with all types of operators, from regulated sportsbooks to less conventional platforms, though he primarily uses Pinnacle and FanDuel. While he rarely bets parlays anymore - unless they are clearly mispriced - his biggest win came from a seven-team parlay at +13675 odds. Corey visits Las Vegas multiple times a year. His favorite resort is the Wynn/Encore, though he can be found at any sportsbook offering an off-market number.