The Cleveland Cavaliers walk into Toronto tonight with a bench that looks more like a training room roll call. The Raptors, riding a seven-game winning streak, have momentum and home court. The headline is simple but heavy: Cleveland is missing a lot of firepower, while Toronto has key players out but remains in rhythm. That mix sets the stage for a game where details like pace, paint touches, and perimeter spacing could decide everything.

Cavs vs Raptors injury report: who’s out, who’s questionable

Here’s the official snapshot for the 7:00 PM ET tip:

• Cavaliers OUT: Darius Garland (left great toe injury management), Jarrett Allen (right 3rd finger strain), Max Strus (left foot surgery — Jones fracture), Sam Merrill (right hand sprain), De’Andre Hunter (rest), Craig Porter Jr. (left hamstring strain).
• Cavaliers QUESTIONABLE: Dean Wade (right knee hyperextension).
• Raptors OUT: RJ Barrett (right knee sprain), Javon Small (left toe turf toe).

This is a lot for the Cavaliers to absorb in one night. Garland is the engine at point guard, Allen anchors the middle, and Strus stretches the floor. With them out, Cleveland needs fresh answers. For Toronto, missing Barrett takes away a strong, downhill wing. But the Raptors’ current form suggests the group has found a working rhythm around that absence.

“If Dean Wade can’t go, who eats those wing minutes and keeps the floor spaced?”

How Cleveland’s absences reshape the offense and defense

Without Darius Garland, the Cavaliers lose their primary table-setter. He handles the ball, organizes sets, and creates shots for others. In a game where half-court looks will matter, that’s a big gap. Expect more by-committee ballhandling and a simpler playbook. That means more drive-and-kick, more dribble handoffs, and a need for crisp spacing.

Max Strus being out hurts that spacing. His shooting pulls defenders out of the lane, which opens drives and post touches. Without him, it gets harder to collapse the defense. The result can be crowded paint and tougher shots late in the clock.

Jarrett Allen’s absence changes the game at both rims. He is a center who protects the paint and finishes plays. No Allen means fewer easy lobs and fewer second-chance points. On defense, it means more pressure on help rotations and gang rebounding from guards and forwards. That is tiring over 48 minutes.

Sam Merrill provides depth shooting, De’Andre Hunter adds size and defense at forward, and Craig Porter Jr. offers guard depth. Take all three away, and Cleveland’s second unit shrinks. Foul trouble becomes a real danger. A couple of quick whistles could force players into roles they don’t usually play.

Raptors injuries balanced by winning rhythm

RJ Barrett is a key wing who scores and attacks the rim. Toronto missing him is not nothing. But the Raptors have strung together seven straight wins. That’s chemistry, execution, and belief. In these spots, role players often grow into their touches. The rhythm matters as much as the names on the injury sheet.

Javon Small being out trims guard depth, but the Raptors have handled their rotation well during this streak. The big question is whether they keep the pace up and stretch Cleveland thin, or slow it down and test the Cavs’ half-court defense without Allen.

“Raptors’ streak is real, but can they punish the paint without Barrett’s drives?”

Matchup keys: pace, paint, and perimeter

Pace: If Toronto runs, they can press Cleveland’s thin rotation. Fast breaks and early offense mean fewer set plays where the Cavs can rest and load up the help. Cleveland will want to control tempo and keep this game in the half court.

Paint: Without Allen, Cleveland must protect the rim as a group. That means showing bodies on drives and finishing possessions with rebounds. If the Raptors live in the lane, free throws and kick-out threes will follow.

Perimeter: With Strus out, shot quality becomes a central worry for the Cavs. They need paint touches to create open threes. Toronto will likely test Cleveland’s shooters by packing the lane and daring others to beat them from deep.

Turnovers: No Garland and fewer ball handlers raise the risk of live-ball mistakes. Those errors fuel easy Raptors points. If Cleveland keeps the ball safe, they can drag this into a tight, low-possession contest.

X-factor: Dean Wade’s status

Dean Wade is listed as questionable with a right knee hyperextension. His status matters because he can guard size and also space the floor at forward. If he plays, Cleveland gets a few more two-way minutes, a bit more lineup balance, and another shooter to keep the Raptors honest. If he sits, the rotation gets even tighter, and the Cavs may lean on smaller groups to chase spacing.

“This feels like a coaching game — survive the first wave, win the details late.”

Who must step up for Cleveland

With so many Cavaliers out, the roles become simple to define. Guards must value the ball and get the team into actions early. Forwards have to screen hard, cut with purpose, and rebound in a crowd. Centers need to box out and turn stops into calm, steady offense.

The bench will also decide stretches of this game. Can Cleveland buy rest for starters without the score sliding? Those two or three minutes at the end of quarters often swing tight matchups. Given the injury list, every possession counts a little more than usual.

What Toronto needs to reinforce

The Raptors should ride what’s working during the seven-game run: defend without fouling, push when the floor is balanced, and trust ball movement. Missing Barrett means the shots may come from different places, but the system is humming. If they stay patient and make the extra pass, the looks will come.

On defense, Toronto can test Cleveland’s spacing early. Show help on drives, sit on the roll, and force the ball to the second side. The Raptors will want to make the Cavs use clock, then contest late. That’s how you wear down a short-handed opponent.

What it means for tonight at 7:00 PM ET

This matchup is a study in contrast. Toronto has form and flow. Cleveland brings grit but a crowded injury report. The Cavs can absolutely hang if they control pace, win the glass by committee, and turn this into a half-court chess match. The Raptors, on the other hand, will try to widen the game, speed up possessions, and lean on depth.

Keep an eye on Dean Wade’s status before tip. If he’s available, Cleveland’s lineup options open up a little. If not, the margin for error shrinks even more.

One more thing to watch: foul trouble. With the Cavs’ limited numbers, one or two early fouls on key players could change the rotation fast. Toronto will know this and likely challenge the rim to test Cleveland’s resistance without Jarrett Allen.

Bottom line

Injuries are the story, but execution will tell the ending. The Cavaliers need a disciplined road game and smart shot selection. The Raptors will trust their streak and the next-man-up mentality that’s carried them. With a 7:00 PM ET start and a clear script, this one should be decided by the small things: who rebounds, who rotates, and who keeps their cool when the game slows down.

For Cleveland, survival is the first step. For Toronto, it’s about keeping the streak alive. Either way, expect a focused, physical game with every possession under a microscope.