Cleveland Cavaliers Game Tonight: Cavs vs Nets Odds, Starting Lineup, Injury Report, Predictions, TV channel for Dec 26

The Cleveland Cavaliers are wrapping up a six-game homestand tonight on Boxing Day, with a strong 4-1 record thus far and victories over some good teams on the ledger. Unfortunately, they entered the Christmas holiday on a sour note, dropping their most recent game to the Toronto Raptors. They’ll try to start a new win streak tonight.

Their opponent is the Brooklyn Nets, who are streaking through December on an eight-game winning streak. Kevin Durant is a killer from mid-range, their defense-oriented starting lineup is working, and Kyrie Irving isn’t splintering team chemistry lately.

Betting odds, spread, over/under

The Cavaliers have been one of the NBA’s best teams this month, but the Nets are a formidable and hot opponent. With the game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the Cavs get a slight edge in the betting odds, per WynnBet. Cleveland is favored by two points, with an over/under point total of 221.

Cavs injury report

Dean Wade (out, shoulder); (Ricky Rubio (out indefinitely, knee); Dylan Windler (out indefinitely, ankle)

Cleveland Cavaliers starting lineup tonight

Cavs: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Lamar Stevens, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Opponent: Kyrie Irving, Royce O’Neale, Kevin Durant, Ben Simmons, Nic Claxton

Prediction

The Nets and Cavs are both playing very well recently, with Donovan Mitchell and Kevin Durant both submitting their MVP cases with bigtime performances in nearly every game. On paper, the Cavs are the better team, with the league’s best defense and a deeper roster than the Nets. Will that hold up against Brooklyn’s hot shooting and unstoppable superstar?

The inability of Ben Simmons and Nic Claxton to shoot could be the key, as the Cavs won’t be afraid to leave them and strangle out the paint. The Nets thrive on midrange shots, but the length of Cleveland will help limit those as well. Brooklyn will have to hope their shooters get hot to help balance things out.

Mitchell and Darius Garland should be able to feast when Seth Curry or Patty Mills enter the game, but the Nets are deep on perimeter options with O’Neale, Yuta Watanabe and Joe Harris, although Harris is not expected to play tonight. Where the Nets are thin is in the frontcourt, with Claxton the only center this team trusts. Allen can overwhelm the thin Claxton, and whoever comes in behind him will get battered around by Allen and Mobley.

If Durant heats up this game could easily go to the Nets, but the Cavs are deeper, bigger and playing at home, where they are 16-3 this season. This one goes to the Cavs, halting the Nets’ winning streak.

Prediction: Cleveland 109, Brooklyn 105

CAVALIERS (-2.0), UNDER

What channel is the Cleveland Cavaliers game on?

The Cavaliers are back on national television tonight, hosting the Brooklyn Nets on NBA TV. That will likely mean local fans can also tune in on Bally Sports Ohio, and fans in New York get access on the YES Network. The tip-off is at 7:00 PM ET.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. [full team name] live stream

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Cleveland Cavaliers next games and schedule

Thu, Dec 29 – Cavs @ Pacers

Sat, Dec 31 – Cavs @ Bulls

Mon, Jan 2 – Cavs vs Bulls

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change