The Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors timeline began on November 28, 1995, when Cleveland defeated Toronto 93–89. Through the 2025–26 season, the teams had played 135 times, including four playoff series. Cleveland won the 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2026 playoff series, with the 2026 matchup going the full seven games.
Key Takeaways
- Cleveland and Toronto first met during the Raptors’ expansion season in 1995.
- The teams have played 114 regular-season games and 21 playoff games through 2025–26.
- Cleveland won the first three playoff series between the teams from 2016 through 2018.
- The 2017 and 2018 playoff meetings both ended in 4–0 Cleveland sweeps.
- Their 2026 first-round series was much closer, with Cleveland winning Game 7, 114–102.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors: The Early Years
The First Meeting in 1995
The Cavaliers and Raptors first met during Toronto’s inaugural 1995–96 NBA season. On November 28, 1995, Toronto visited Cleveland and lost 93–89. The game was played at Gund Arena, with Cleveland improving its record to 5–8 while Toronto fell to 5–10.
That first matchup was not yet a major rivalry. Toronto was an expansion franchise, while Cleveland was already an established NBA team. Still, the meeting started a series history that would eventually include several important postseason battles.
Building a Regular-Season Rivalry
For many years, Cleveland and Toronto primarily crossed paths during the regular season. Their games became more interesting as both franchises developed stronger teams and eventually became regular Eastern Conference playoff contenders.
The all-time regular-season record through 2025–26 stands at Cleveland 60 wins, Toronto 54 wins. Their overall regular-season history contains 114 games.
The rivalry changed significantly once both teams reached the postseason around the middle of the 2010s.
2016: The First Major Playoff Meeting
The first playoff chapter of the Cavaliers-Raptors timeline arrived in the 2016 Eastern Conference Finals.
Cleveland entered the series with LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, while Toronto was led by players including Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. NBA.com records the series as a 4–2 Cleveland victory.
Eastern Conference Finals
The Cavaliers won the first two games in Cleveland:
- Game 1: Cleveland 115, Toronto 84
- Game 2: Cleveland 108, Toronto 89
Toronto then responded at home, winning Games 3 and 4:
- Game 3: Toronto 99, Cleveland 84
- Game 4: Toronto 105, Cleveland 99
The Raptors had tied the series 2–2, creating the first truly competitive playoff stage between the franchises.
Toronto Pushes Back
Toronto’s two home victories made the series a six-game contest rather than an early Cleveland runaway.
Cleveland answered decisively in Game 5, winning 116–78. The Cavaliers then closed the series in Toronto with a 113–87 victory in Game 6.
The 2016 series therefore ended Cavaliers 4, Raptors 2.
It was also the first of four playoff series between the teams.
2017: Cavaliers Sweep the Raptors
The next postseason meeting came just one year later in the 2017 Eastern Conference Semifinals.
This time, Cleveland did not allow Toronto to win a game.
The Cavaliers won:
- Game 1: Cleveland 116, Toronto 105
- Game 2: Cleveland 125, Toronto 103
- Game 3: Cleveland 115, Toronto 94
- Game 4: Cleveland 109, Toronto 102
The final result was a 4–0 Cleveland sweep. NBA.com confirms that Cleveland completed the sweep on May 7, 2017, with LeBron James scoring 35 points in the deciding game.
The 2017 meeting was notable because Toronto had reached the conference finals the previous season but could not repeat that success against Cleveland.
2018: Another Four-Game Sweep
The rivalry returned for a third straight postseason in 2018, again in the Eastern Conference.
Toronto entered this series as the No. 1 seed, while Cleveland was the No. 4 seed. NBA.com described it as Toronto’s third consecutive playoff meeting with Cleveland.
Toronto Enters as the No. 1 Seed
Toronto had won 59 games during the regular season and entered the playoffs with home-court advantage. Yet Cleveland again controlled the series.
The Overtime Game 1
The opening game became one of the most memorable contests in the series.
Toronto led by 14 points, but Cleveland came back to win 113–112 in overtime. LeBron James recorded a playoff triple-double, while the Cavaliers took a 1–0 lead.
Cleveland then won Game 2, 128–110.
Game 3 was much closer. James hit a buzzer-beating shot as Cleveland defeated Toronto 105–103, putting the Cavaliers one victory away from another sweep.
Cleveland Finishes the Sweep
Game 4 ended 128–93 in Cleveland’s favor.
The final series score was again 4–0, giving Cleveland three consecutive playoff-series victories over Toronto from 2016 through 2018.
2019–2025: A Changing Rivalry
The Cavaliers-Raptors story changed after the 2018 postseason.
LeBron James left Cleveland following the 2017–18 season, while Toronto eventually entered a new era built around different players. Toronto won the 2019 NBA championship, while Cleveland went through a roster-building period.
The regular-season meetings continued, but the teams did not meet in the playoffs from 2019 through 2025.
That six-season postseason gap ended in 2026.
2026: The Seven-Game Playoff Thriller
The 2026 season produced the fourth playoff meeting between Cleveland and Toronto and created a very different chapter in the timeline.
Before the playoffs, Toronto had actually won all three regular-season meetings with Cleveland:
- October 31, 2025: Toronto 112, Cleveland 101
- November 13, 2025: Toronto 126, Cleveland 113
- November 24, 2025: Toronto 110, Cleveland 99
NBA.com noted that Toronto’s 3–0 regular-season sweep was one reason the first-round matchup looked particularly competitive.
Games 1 and 2
Cleveland immediately changed the postseason matchup.
The Cavaliers won Game 1 126–113 and Game 2 115–105, taking a 2–0 series lead.
Toronto Answers in Games 3 and 4
Toronto responded with two straight wins.
The Raptors won Game 3 126–104 and Game 4 93–89, tying the series at 2–2.
The comeback meant the Cavaliers would not repeat their 2017 or 2018 sweep.
Cleveland Wins Games 5 and 7
Cleveland took Game 5 at home, 125–120, but Toronto forced another game by winning Game 6 112–110 in overtime.
That sent the teams to a deciding Game 7 in Cleveland.
The Cavaliers won 114–102, with Jarrett Allen producing 22 points and 19 rebounds. Donovan Mitchell added 22 points, while James Harden scored 18. Scottie Barnes led Toronto with 24 points.
The 2026 series finished Cleveland 4, Toronto 3.
Every game in the seven-game series was won by the home team.
Cavaliers vs Raptors All-Time Head-to-Head Record
Through the 2025–26 season, the teams had played 135 total games across the regular season and playoffs.
| Category | Cleveland | Toronto |
| Regular-season wins | 60 | 54 |
| Playoff wins | 16 | 5 |
| Playoff series wins | 4 | 0 |
| Total games | 135 | 135 |
The playoff numbers come from the four series: Cleveland won 4–2 in 2016, 4–0 in 2017, 4–0 in 2018 and 4–3 in 2026. That adds up to 21 playoff games, with Cleveland winning 16 and Toronto winning 5.
Cavaliers vs Raptors Playoff Series Timeline
| Year | Round | Series Result |
| 2016 | Eastern Conference Finals | Cavaliers won 4–2 |
| 2017 | Eastern Conference Semifinals | Cavaliers won 4–0 |
| 2018 | Eastern Conference Semifinals | Cavaliers won 4–0 |
| 2026 | Eastern Conference First Round | Cavaliers won 4–3 |
The 2016 series was the first and only one of the four decided in fewer than four victories by Cleveland. The 2026 series was the first to reach Game 7.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Cavaliers and Raptors first play?
The Cavaliers and Raptors first met on November 28, 1995, during Toronto’s inaugural NBA season. Cleveland won that game 93–89 at Gund Arena.
How many playoff series have the Cavaliers and Raptors played?
They have played four playoff series: the 2016 Eastern Conference Finals, the 2017 Eastern Conference Semifinals, the 2018 Eastern Conference Semifinals and the 2026 Eastern Conference First Round. Cleveland won every series.
Who has won more Cavaliers vs Raptors games?
Through the 2025–26 season, Cleveland had won more regular-season games, 60–54. Cleveland also held a 16–5 advantage in playoff games.
Did the Cavaliers sweep the Raptors in 2026?
No. Cleveland won the 2026 series 4–3. Toronto won Games 3, 4 and 6, while Cleveland won Games 1, 2, 5 and 7.
What was the 2026 Game 7 score?
Cleveland defeated Toronto 114–102 in Game 7 on May 3, 2026, at Rocket Arena. The victory sent Cleveland into the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Conclusion
The Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors timeline stretches from their first meeting in 1995 to a much more competitive playoff chapter in 2026.
The most important period came between 2016 and 2018, when the teams met in the playoffs three straight years.
Cleveland won all three of those series, including consecutive sweeps in 2017 and 2018. But the 2026 matchup looked very different: Toronto pushed the Cavaliers to seven games after winning three regular-season meetings, and Cleveland ultimately advanced with a 114–102 Game 7 victory.
The result leaves the overall playoff series record at 4–0 for Cleveland, while Toronto has now won five individual playoff games against the Cavaliers.
Their next meeting will add another chapter to a history that has evolved from ordinary regular-season games into one of the more recognizable Eastern Conference postseason matchups.
