There is no shortage of games to look forward to on Wednesday, but few are as intriguing as Raptors vs. Cavaliers.
Both teams enjoyed a surprising amount of success last season. The Raptors weren't projected to make the playoffs, and yet they finished with the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers saw their season come to an end in the Play-In Tournament, but they shattered their preseason win total and probably would have made the playoffs if not for untimely injuries.
The Raptors and Cavaliers are counting mostly on internal development being the key to taking the next step, though Cleveland did shake things up in the offseason with a blockbuster trade for All-Star Donovan Mitchell.
With that in mind, here are three particular storylines to watch in this juicy opening night matchup.
MORE: 10 burning questions that will define the Raptors' season
Three storylines to watch in Raptors vs. Cavaliers
1. Donovan Mitchell's debut with the Cavaliers
The Cavaliers doubled down on last season's good vibes by trading for Mitchell in the offseason.
Mitchell didn't come cheap, but Cleveland is now home to one of the best cores in the NBA. Mitchell is a proven star and should form a dynamic one-two punch with Darius Garland in the backcourt. Jarrett Allen will anchor the team's defense once again, and Evan Mobley has the potential to be an absolute stud on both ends of the court.
If all four of them reach their potential — Mitchell, 26, is the oldest of the group — the Cavaliers are going to have something special.
MORE: How Donovan Mitchell to Cavs impacts the Raptors
2. The next chapter of Scottie Barnes vs. Evan Mobley
Few players in the league have as bright of a future as Barnes and Mobley.
The two finished first and second in last season's Rookie of the Year voting, respectively. Barnes proved to be a do-it-all forward, capable of guarding almost anyone on defense and wearing many hats on offense. Mobley looks like a future Defensive Player of the Year and has the makings of a dynamic offensive player.
With how their rookie seasons played out, Barnes and Mobley are probably going to be compared to one another for their entire careers, making every matchup between them an appointment League Pass viewing.
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Here's how they performed in the three games they played against each other last season:
| Wins | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | FG% | |
| Evan Mobley | 2 | 16.3 | 10.0 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 58.3 |
| Scottie Barnes | 1 | 14.7 | 9.0 | 4.7 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 45.2 |
MORE: NBA execs rank six players ahead of Scottie Barnes to build around
3. Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet back at full strength
Siakam and VanVleet played 53 games alongside each other last season, but one of them was battling an injury in most of those contests. Siakam started the season recovering from shoulder surgery and VanVleet fought through a knee injury down the stretch.
Fortunately for the Raptors, both stars are healthy entering the 2022-23 season. If Toronto is going to make some noise in a loaded Eastern Conference, it starts with them.
Siakam in particular has big expectations for himself this season. He revealed before the season that his next goal is to be a top-five player, which would put him in the same category as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant.
That sure would be a massive leap for Siakam to make, but facing a Cavaliers team that had the fifth-best defensive rating in the NBA last season will be a good test for him.
MORE: Why fully healthy Siakam, VanVleet could spell trouble for rest of East
Raptors vs. Cavaliers start time
- Date: Wednesday, Oct. 19
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET | 4:30 p.m. PT
Raptors vs. Cavaliers is scheduled to tip off around 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 19. The game will be played at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada.
What channel is Raptors vs. Cavaliers on?
- TV channel (Canada): TSN
- TV channel (Ohio): Bally Sports
- Live stream (USA): NBA League Pass
Raptors vs. Cavaliers will air on TSN in Canada and Bally Sports in Ohio. The game can be live-streamed on NBA League Pass in the rest of the United States.
