Cavs-Kings: Starters, odds, injury report and TV channel for Monday

Lauri Markkanen, Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo by Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports)
Lauri Markkanen, Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo by Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports)

After a disappointing loss in Klay Thompson’s return to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers will try to wash that one on Monday night at the Sacramento Kings, the second leg of their latest back-to-back.

In the first meeting of the season between these two squads on Dec. 11, Cleveland had a monstrous 81-point first half and a 29-point lead, and looked to cruise the rest of the way. To the Kings’ credit, it didn’t turn out that way, and they at one point cut Cleveland’s lead to single digits in the fourth quarter, with the Cavs ending up winning by 14 with Ricky Rubio hitting two big threes down the stretch.

Looking at the second and final matchup between these two teams on Monday, the Kings, who have lost 9 of 12, will try to rebound here against the Cavs, who have had some issues lately, having lost 5 of 7. This will be the second leg of a back-to-back for Sacramento, who lost at the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, too.

The Cavaliers won’t have Rubio this go-round, or in other outings the rest of the season, clearly, as he tore his ACL nearly two weeks back at the New Orleans Pelicans, and whether he’ll be back next year/perhaps onward is up in the air as of now.

Cleveland’s recent trade acquisition of Rajon Rondo should help the Cavaliers in terms of playmaking depth, though, and Rondo has done a fine job in rotational playing time in his first two games, but I’m well aware he’s not the bench scoring presence Rubio had been, even with inherent streakiness there. He, Lamar Stevens and Dylan Windler, defensively at least, were bright spots on Sunday for Cleveland, also.

So, what do you have to know about this Cavs-Kings matchup, and how to bet?

Heading into Monday’s game, it’s uncertain so far if we’ll see Richaun Holmes in there for the Kings, as he has been in COVID-19 health and safety protocols; it appears doubtful, realistically. Conditioning for Holmes might not be there yet.

Holmes wasn’t in the first meeting between these two teams because of an eye injury, and if he’s not in this one, the Cavs bigs could have their way again in the paint.

On the perimeter though, when he’s in there off the bench, the Cavaliers will need to be better prepared for Davion Mitchell being matched up on lead ball handlers. Darius Garland had 12 assists in the first meeting, but when Mitchell was on him in the second half, he gave Garland some problems with his pressure defense, even while he did still make some great passes.

I question if Garland will end up playing here, in that realm, too. He’s not listed on the injury report yet, but he was holding his back near the end versus Golden State after a late layup attempt. So I could foresee him out here, and maybe a game or two for precaution.

Either way, with Isaac Okoro out, it will be interesting to see what the Cavaliers do with De’Aaron Fox, and Tyrese Haliburton might be a difficult matchup for Lamar Stevens, with his sound play, versatile offensive game and playmaking abilities. Buddy Hield’s shooting in his bench minutes is always formidable as well.

Nonetheless, with the Cavs’ youngsters finding their rhythm again coming out of protocols, and with their veteran bench guys, they could still have the upper hand here.

Cavs-Kings: Odds, spread and over/under

Currently, according to our partners at WynnBet, the Cavaliers are favored here by 5.0 over the Kings.

The over/under for both teams combined in this one is set for 220.0, with it being 112.5 for Cleveland and 107.5 for Sacramento.

Cavs-Kings: Projected starting lineups, injury report

Kings starters: De’Aaron Fox/Davion Mitchell, Tyrese Haliburton, Harrison Barnes, Marvin Bagley III, Alex Len/Richaun Holmes

Cavs starters: Darius Garland/Rajon Rondo, Lamar Stevens, Lauri Markkanen, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Kings’ injuries: Damian Jones (out, COVID-19 health and safety protocols); Richaun Holmes (doubtful, COVID-19 health and safety protocols); Maurice Harkless (questionable, ankle).

Cavs’ injuries: Collin Sexton (out for season, knee); Ricky Rubio (out for season, knee); Isaac Okoro (out, elbow). And for context, Darius Garland could seemingly be added to the injury report as questionable, regarding his back.

Cavs-Kings: Prediction

It’s safe to say that the Cavs aren’t going to be close to as dominant as they were for much of that first game versus the Kings this go-round. Rubio is no longer a factor, and while he’s not yet formally listed on the injury report, I do have some suspicion about Garland playing here, and even if he were to, I could foresee a quasi-pitch count for him.

As we noted, however, the Cavs bigs should be able to take advantage, and after a rough outing from them at Golden State, I do believe we’ll see them bounce back here.

Harrison Barnes, Fox and Haliburton, to go with Hield will need to be accounted for, as we know, but I do think with Cleveland hopefully having some steady play inside as a bounce-back from Sunday, they can gradually get to what they want.

Garland if he can go for some of this, or regardless, Rondo, the playmaking bigs in Mobley and Kevin Love, and some playmaking from recent two-way signing Brandon Goodwin can help Cleveland come up with a workmanlike victory here. If the Cavs are patient, they should find quality looks as the game progresses; I do expect it to be close throughout, even still.

Prediction: Cavs 108, Kings 104

The Bet: Kings (+5.0)

Cavs-Kings: Where to watch

This matchup can be viewed for those it applies to on Bally Sports Ohio, and for feasibly the West Coast perspective locally, on NBC Sports California.

And/or for those subscribed, NBA League Pass will do the trick.

Cavaliers upcoming schedule:

After this Kings game, the Cavaliers will have their second meeting with the Utah Jazz on Wednesday in Salt Lake City, which would have been a very tough contest normally, but the Jazz will be without Rudy Gobert and likely Joe Ingles. That changes things offensively.

Following that one, Cleveland will have the first game of their next back-to-back at the San Antonio Spurs, which is a matchup of two young teams, and the Spurs have their share of guys who can make a difference on the perimeter. Dejoune Murray is back too, so that’s something to keep an eye on, with his impact on both ends when healthy.

From there, the second leg of Cleveland’s next back-to-back is a game at the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are amid a full-rebuild, but do have some very intriguing young pieces, and a potential star in the making in Josh Giddey.