The Raptors swept the Cavs in the autumn, but their season has been dogged by awful returns against the league’s top sides. The injury fortune has switched since those early-season meetings, with two Toronto starters dealing with injury issues. The Cavs flew out of the traps in last season’s playoffs, and they’ve won five of their last six ahead of Game 1.

Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels are both struggling with knee injuries, and they’re likely to play despite not being 100% fit. That’s a huge blow for Minnesota, who had a losing record against teams that were .500 or better in the regular season. Denver will be aiming to set the tone, having recovered from injury issues of their own.

The Hawks finished the season 20-6 post-All-Star, and they had the fourth-best net rating across the entire NBA in that time. They beat the Knicks in MSG in January, while they lost by a possession earlier this month. Atlanta can really push the Knicks in this series, while New York won by three points or fewer in three of their four victories at this stage last season.

The Rockets’ clashes with the Golden State Warriors in round 1 last year frequently failed to crack 200 points. Now the Rockets meet a Lakers side that are without their two top scorers, and relying on 41-year-old LeBron James to carry that burden. Expect a tense clash, with the Lakers likely to lean on defenders in place of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels are both struggling with knee injuries, and they’re likely to play despite not being 100% fit. That’s a huge blow for Minnesota, who had a losing record against teams that were .500 or better in the regular season. Denver will be aiming to set the tone, having recovered from injury issues of their own.

The Hawks finished the season 20-6 post-All-Star, and they had the fourth-best net rating across the entire NBA in that time. They beat the Knicks in MSG in January, while they lost by a possession earlier this month. Atlanta can really push the Knicks in this series, while New York won by three points or fewer in three of their four victories at this stage last season.

The Hawks finished the season 20-6 post-All-Star, and they had the fourth-best net rating across the entire NBA in that time. They beat the Knicks in MSG in January, while they lost by a possession earlier this month. Atlanta can really push the Knicks in this series, while New York won by three points or fewer in three of their four victories at this stage last season.