Raptors vs. Cavaliers Playoff Schedule Revealed

The No. 5 seed Toronto Raptors open their 2026 NBA Playoffs series against the No. 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 3:22am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game between two teams, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes of color, capturing the dynamic energy and competition of the playoff matchup.The Raptors and Cavaliers' playoff clash promises an intense, high-stakes battle on the hardwood.Cleveland Today

The 2026 NBA Playoffs are set, and the Toronto Raptors will face off against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors, who locked in the No. 5 seed, will head to Rocket Arena in Cleveland for the start of their best-of-seven series against the No. 4 seeded Cavaliers.

Why it matters

This series marks another chapter in the storied playoff history between the Raptors and Cavs. Historically, Cleveland has held the upper hand with a 12-2 all-time playoff record against Toronto. However, the regular season told a different story, with the Raptors proving they could handle the Cavaliers' length and star power by winning all three games in the season series.

The details

Game 1 of the series will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. The game will be broadcast on ABC in the US and TSN or Sportsnet in Canada. The Cavaliers will go as far as Donovan Mitchell takes them, as he averaged 24 points and seven assists per game against the Raptors during the regular season. However, the Cavaliers also have a new backcourt partner in James Harden, who was acquired in February.

  • Game 1: Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET

The players

Brandon Ingram

Toronto Raptors forward.

Nae Qwan Tomlin

Cleveland Cavaliers forward.

Donovan Mitchell

Cleveland Cavaliers guard who averaged 24 points and seven assists per game against the Raptors during the regular season.

James Harden

Cleveland Cavaliers guard who was acquired in February.

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What’s next

The dates and times for the remaining games in the series have yet to be determined, but Games 2, 5, and 7 will take place at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. Games 3, 4, and 6 will be at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

The takeaway

This first-round playoff series between the Raptors and Cavaliers promises to be an exciting and hard-fought matchup, with the Cavaliers holding the historical edge but the Raptors proving they can handle Cleveland's star power during the regular season. The early tip-off for Game 1 will be a test for the Raptors, but if they can get into a rhythm early, they could set the tone for the series with an upset.