The timeline for Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors reveals over three decades of NBA history and some of the greatest playoff matchups and players in the East. The first time the two teams clashed was during Toronto’s debut 1995-96 season, and since then, they’ve seen a number of notable players come and go, including LeBron James, Vince Carter, Chris Bosh, Kyrie Irving, DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, Kawhi Leonard, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Scottie Barnes. A battle began to emerge as a lot more important from 2016 forward, as Cleveland took three straight playoff series from Toronto from 2016 to 2018 during the LeBron James era. This article will provide Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors timeline and Cleveland vs Toronto Raptors history gives you all the information including the head to head, season by season, playoff history, statistics, important players and memorable games.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors Rivalry
The Toronto Raptors joined the NBA in the 1995-96 season. Cleveland had already proven to be a solid team in the E.C. and Toronto was still a few years away from becoming competitive. Some key players had to be involved in the early rivalry. Ultimately, Toronto came to be known as the Vince Carter and Chris Bosh team and Cleveland was a completely different franchise after drafting LeBron James in the first round of the NBA Draft in 2003.
This matchup gained an increased importance in the 2010s. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan helped Toronto become one of the best regular-season teams in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland, on the other hand, had become a contender for a championship after LeBron James is back in 2014. The teams played in a playoff three times in a row from 2016 to 2018. Cleveland won all of them, including a 4-2 run in the 2016 Eastern Conference Finals, a 4-0 win in 2017 and a 4-0 sweep in 2018.
Both teams would again face each other in the 2026 playoffs, resulting in yet another dramatic encounter. Cleveland eventually won 4-3.
| Category | Cleveland Cavaliers | Toronto Raptors |
| Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference |
| Division | Central Division | Atlantic Division |
| Home Arena | Rocket Arena | Scotiabank Arena |
| First NBA Meeting | 1995-96 | 1995-96 |
| Regular-Season Games | 114 | 114 |
| Regular-Season Wins | 60 | 54 |
| Regular-Season Win Percentage | 52.6% | 47.4% |
| Total Games Including Playoffs | 135 | 135 |
| Overall Wins | 76 | 59 |
| Playoff Series | 4 | 4 |
| Playoff Series Wins | 4 | 0 |
| 2026 Playoff Result | Won 4-3 | Lost 3-4 |
| NBA Championships | 1 | 1 |
Early Moments of the Rivalry
When Toronto joined the NBA in 1995, the rivalry started. But Cleveland had a longer history in the Eastern Conference and the Raptors were an expansion team trying to get on the road. Vince Carter’s arrival helped to propel Toronto up the ranks. His points and ball-handling ability, combined with his dunks, made the Raptors an iconic young team in the NBA. LeBron James is the ultimate game-changer for Cleveland. He put the Cavaliers on the map as a consistent Eastern Conference team, instead of a rebuilding team. In the early years, the teams were deadlocked, but overtime, Cleveland slowly got the better of the long term.
2000s: LeBron James’ turning the matchup around.
James’ arrival made Cleveland a regular playoff team, while Toronto underwent a few changes in the Vince Carter period. But ultimately Chris Bosh was the Raptors’ franchise player and a key reason for the Raptors’ staying power in Toronto.
As the Cavs continued to win games, they took on greater significance when they played against Toronto. Cleveland’s size, defense and LeBron’s all-around ability presented significant challenges for the Raptors. By the decade’s end the groundwork had been laid for the much greater playoff competition of the ensuing decade.
1990s: Anthony Jones vs Memphis Grizzlies
The 2010s era of the Cavaliers-Raptors rivalry was the most defining one.
The Toronto combination of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan was an outstanding backcourt. The Raptors began to become a powerhouse team throughout the regular season, and would go up to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
In 2014, Cleveland began the second era of LeBron James. James now joined Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love to make for a championship-caliber core.
During the regular season, the two teams competed quite frequently and their playoff series was what it became known for.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors Timeline
Here’s a look at the Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors Timeline.
2010-11 Season
| Date | Winner | Score |
| Apr. 6, 2011 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 104-96 |
| Jan. 5, 2011 | Toronto Raptors | 120-105 |
| Oct. 29, 2010 | Toronto Raptors | 101-81 |
2011-12 Season
| Date | Winner | Score |
| Apr. 6, 2012 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 84-80 |
| Mar. 13, 2012 | Toronto Raptors | 96-88 |
| Jan. 4, 2012 | Toronto Raptors | 92-77 |
| Dec. 26, 2011 | Toronto Raptors | 104-96 |
2012-13 Season
| Date | Winner | Score |
| Mar. 10, 2013 | Toronto Raptors | 100-96 |
| Feb. 27, 2013 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 103-92 |
| Jan. 26, 2013 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 99-98 |
| Dec. 18, 2012 | Toronto Raptors | 113-99 |
2013-14 Season
| Date | Winner | Score |
| Mar. 25, 2014 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 102-100 |
| Feb. 25, 2014 | Toronto Raptors | 99-93 |
| Feb. 21, 2014 | Toronto Raptors | 98-91 |
2014-15 Season
| Date | Winner | Score |
| Mar. 4, 2015 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 120-112 |
| Dec. 9, 2014 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 105-101 |
| Dec. 5, 2014 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 105-91 |
| Nov. 22, 2014 | Toronto Raptors | 110-93 |
2015-16 Season: Eastern Conference Finals
| Game | Date | Winner | Score |
| Game 6 | May 27, 2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 113-87 |
| Game 5 | May 25, 2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 116-78 |
| Game 4 | May 23, 2016 | Toronto Raptors | 105-99 |
| Game 3 | May 21, 2016 | Toronto Raptors | 99-84 |
| Game 2 | May 19, 2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 108-89 |
| Game 1 | May 17, 2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 115-84 |
2016-17 Season
| Date | Winner | Score |
| Apr. 12, 2017 | Toronto Raptors | 98-83 |
| Dec. 5, 2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 116-112 |
| Nov. 15, 2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 121-117 |
| Oct. 28, 2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 94-91 |
2017-18 Season
| Date | Winner | Score |
| Apr. 3, 2018 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 132-106 |
| Mar. 21, 2018 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 132-129 |
| Jan. 11, 2018 | Toronto Raptors | 133-99 |
2018-19 Season
| Date | Winner | Score |
| Mar. 11, 2019 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 126-101 |
| Dec. 21, 2018 | Toronto Raptors | 126-110 |
| Dec. 1, 2018 | Toronto Raptors | 106-95 |
| Oct. 17, 2018 | Toronto Raptors | 116-104 |
2019-20 Season
| Date | Winner | Score |
| Jan. 30, 2020 | Toronto Raptors | 115-109 |
| Dec. 31, 2019 | Toronto Raptors | 117-97 |
| Dec. 16, 2019 | Toronto Raptors | 133-113 |
2020-21 Season
| Date | Winner | Score |
| Apr. 26, 2021 | Toronto Raptors | 112-96 |
| Apr. 10, 2021 | Toronto Raptors | 135-115 |
| Mar. 21, 2021 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 116-105 |
2021-22 Season
| Date | Winner | Score |
| Mar. 24, 2022 | Toronto Raptors | 117-104 |
| Mar. 6, 2022 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 104-96 |
| Dec. 26, 2021 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 144-99 |
| Nov. 5, 2021 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 102-101 |
2022-23 Season
| Date | Winner | Score |
| Feb. 26, 2023 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 118-93 |
| Dec. 23, 2022 | Toronto Raptors | 118-107 |
| Nov. 28, 2022 | Toronto Raptors | 100-88 |
| Oct. 19, 2022 | Toronto Raptors | 108-105 |
2023-24 Season
| Date | Winner | Score |
| Feb. 10, 2024 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 119-95 |
| Jan. 1, 2024 | Toronto Raptors | 124-121 |
| Nov. 26, 2023 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 105-102 |
2024-25 Season
| Date | Winner | Score |
| Feb. 12, 2025 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 131-108 |
| Jan. 9, 2025 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 132-126 |
| Nov. 24, 2024 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 122-108 |
| Oct. 23, 2024 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 136-106 |
2025-26 Season
| Date | Winner | Score |
| Nov. 24, 2025 | Toronto Raptors | 110-99 |
| Nov. 13, 2025 | Toronto Raptors | 126-113 |
| Oct. 31, 2025 | Toronto Raptors | 112-101 |
Cavaliers vs Raptors 2026 Playoff Series
| Game | Date | Winner | Score |
| Game 7 | May 3, 2026 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 114-102 |
| Game 6 | May 1, 2026 | Toronto Raptors | 112-110 (OT) |
| Game 5 | Apr. 29, 2026 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 125-120 |
| Game 4 | Apr. 26, 2026 | Toronto Raptors | 93-89 |
| Game 3 | Apr. 23, 2026 | Toronto Raptors | 126-104 |
| Game 2 | Apr. 20, 2026 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 115-105 |
| Game 1 | Apr. 18, 2026 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 126-113 |
Cavaliers vs Raptors Head-to-Head Records
Given below is the head to head record of Cavaliers vs Raptors.
| Statistic | Cavaliers | Raptors |
| Regular-Season Games | 114 | 114 |
| Regular-Season Wins | 60 | 54 |
| Regular-Season Win Percentage | 52.6% | 47.4% |
| Overall Games | 135 | 135 |
| Overall Wins | 76 | 59 |
| Playoff Games | 21 | 21 |
| Playoff Wins | 16 | 5 |
| Playoff Series | 4 | 4 |
| Playoff Series Wins | 4 | 0 |
| 2026 Playoff Result | Won 4-3 | Lost 3-4 |
Cavaliers vs Raptors Statistical Comparison
| Category | Cavaliers | Raptors |
| Regular-Season Wins | 60 | 54 |
| Points | 11,518 | 11,428 |
| Field Goal Percentage | 45.8% | 45.7% |
| Three-Point Percentage | 36.4% | 36.2% |
| Rebounds | 4,795 | 4,629 |
| Assists | 2,687 | 2,635 |
| Steals | 812 | 845 |
| Blocks | 501 | 565 |
| Turnovers | 1,618 | 1,528 |
Memorable Games
Cavaliers 144-99 Raptors, 2021
Cleveland outshot Toronto with 35 shots to 15, 18 goals to 6, and outrebounded the Magpies with 42 to 23 (92-70), capping off a 144-99 win on Dec. 26, 2021. It was one of the biggest victories in the history of the rivalry by a margin of 45 points.
Cavaliers 116-78 Raptors, 2016
In an Eastern Conference Finals Game 5 victory, Cleveland’s unprecedented 38-point win. The Cavs improved their record to 3-2 series and advanced to the NBA Finals.
Raptors 133-99 Cavaliers, 2018
It was one of most lopsided regular-season wins from Toronto over Cleveland, with the win coming by 34 points.
Cavaliers 132-129 Raptors, 2018
The season saw both teams as high-scoring top contenders, so it wasn’t surprising that the 132-129 win on March 21, 2018, came when Cleveland was riding a nine-game winning streak.
Cavaliers 114-102 Raptors, 2026
The biggest installment was in game 7 of the 2026 playoffs. Cleveland would beat Toronto 114-102 to go up 4-3 in the series and move on to the next round.
Conclusion
The entire Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors history spans over 30 years of NBA history and multiple generations of stars. Cleveland has been the stronger side of the match up for much of the match up, especially in the playoffs. The highlight of that time is undoubtedly the LeBron James era; from 2016 to 2018, the Cavaliers went through three straight playoff series against Toronto. Ultimately, Toronto found a way to create a separate championship story with Kawhi Leonard when they beat Toronto in the 2019 NBA Finals. That marked the beginning of another transition as the Raptors managed to rebuild around a younger group of players, while Cleveland continues to work on a younger group.
FAQs
A1. Cleveland is tied at 60-54 in the regular season series. The Cavs enjoy a 76-59 advantage, including the playoffs.
A2. Yes. The teams have met in four playoff series: 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2026. Cleveland picked up each series.
A3. The Cleveland Cavaliers took a 4-3 series lead over the Indiana Pacers in the 2026 Eastern Conference First Round series.
A4. Yes. Toronto would go 3-0 in the regular season against Cleveland with wins of 112-101, 126-113 and 110-99.
A5. On December 26, 2021, Cleveland beat Toronto 144-99, leaving them with a 45-point win.
