The Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Brooklyn Nets tonight at Barclays Center in Brooklyn as both teams look for their first win in the regular season opening week.

That, of course, won’t be much of a challenge for Cleveland, which is likely to finish at or near the top of the East this season. For Brooklyn, winning will be a rare occurrence once again as they continue their long rebuild with a roster stacked with 19- and 20-year-olds, including five first-round picks from this summer’s NBA Draft.

Cleveland lost its season opener on Wednesday night across the East River against the New York Knicks, falling 119–111 despite 31 points from Donovan Mitchell and 22 from Evan Mobley. The Cavaliers trailed most of the game and went cold after briefly claiming a second-half lead, allowing the Knicks to close on a 14–0 run.

Mobley’s expanded offensive game was a bright spot, as he went 4-of-8 from deep, while Mitchell showed his usual scoring versatility. Still, defensive rotations lagged in the fourth, and the Cavaliers were out-rebounded 32–48. The focus heading into Brooklyn will be on executing in late-game situations and finding secondary scoring behind Mitchell.

The Nets, meanwhile, were blown out at home by the Charlotte Hornets in their opener, 136–117. Their young roster struggled to contain Charlotte’s transition offense, giving up 23 transition points and 60 points in the paint, allowing the Hornets to shoot 53.3% from the field. The Nets were also outrebounded 38 to 50.

Predictions

Cleveland’s core of Mitchell and Mobley should control both ends, especially against a Brooklyn team still experimenting with lineups and defensive schemes. The Cavaliers’ interior presence and shooting efficiency give them a decisive edge, even on the road.

Prediction: Cavaliers 127, Nets 103

Injury Report

Cleveland Cavaliers

Darius Garland — Out (toe)

Max Strus — Out (foot)

De’Andre Hunter — Questionable (knee)

Brooklyn Nets

Haywood Highsmith — Out (knee)

Drake Powell — Out (ankle)

Danny Wolf — Out (ankle)

How to Watch Cavaliers vs. Nets

Tip-off for tonight’s Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets game is set for 7:30 PM Eastern / 6:30 PM Central at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The game airs live on YES Network and FanDuel Sports Network Ohio.

Fans in the Cavs broadcast market without a FanDuel Sports Network subscription can purchase one on Amazon here.

Out-of-market viewers can stream the matchup on NBA League Pass for free on Amazon Prime Video with a 7-day free trial here.

Amazon also offers a discounted subscription that starts at $12.74 for the first two months (then $16.99/month). The subscription also includes access to NBA TV.

Fans can also choose a Team Pass to follow one team’s games for $13.99 per month.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets

Date: Friday, October 24, 2025

Time: 7:30 PM Eastern / 6:30 PM Central

Venue: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York

TV: YES Network, FanDuel Sports Network Ohio

Streaming: Gotham Sports app, NBA League Pass (out-of-market)