CLEVELAND, Ohio — Nostalgia will be in the area at Rocket Arena for Wednesday night’s clash between the Cavs and Suns.
Before the ball tips, it may feel more like a reunion than a standard end-of-year matchup, with storylines stretching far beyond the hardwood. While tipoff at 3:30 p.m. signals the close of the 2025 calendar year, the intrigue lies more in the coaching boxes, where old connections and new philosophies collide.
On one side is Kenny Atkinson, still solidifying his identity as the Cavs’ head coach. Across the court stands Jordan Ott, a former Cleveland assistant who helped shape Evan Mobley’s offensive leap, now leading a surging Suns squad.
Ott brings with him the energy and tactical fingerprints of someone intimately familiar with Cleveland’s personnel, blending those lessons with the broader challenge of commanding a roster hungry for a playoff push.
Adding another layer, DeMarre Carroll, who spent a single season on Cleveland’s staff last year mentoring Jaylon Tyson and Craig Porter Jr., joins Ott in Phoenix. His role as a development coach for wing players brings a subtle but tangible connection to how the Cavs’ young talent has been cultivated.
Mateen Cleaves, the 14th overall pick in 2000 and a former Cavs guard, is also on Ott’s bench in a leadership and player development role. Cleaves spent six NBA seasons across Detroit, Sacramento, Cleveland, and Seattle, and now leverages that experience to mold Phoenix’s roster while carrying the ethos of mentorship he honed as the director of leadership coaching at United Wholesale Mortgage.
Phoenix enters with a 19-13 record, riding a four-game win streak and six victories in its last 10 — a team that will test the Cavs’ resolve.
Wednesday will be the first real opportunity to see just how much Cleveland has been missing Ott and his offensive brilliance.
For Atkinson, the game is more than an Xs-and-Os exercise. It’s a chance to see how a first-generation coaching disciple has evolved after leaving his tutelage. Ott’s approach to spacing, pick-and-roll reads and versatility will be a living reflection of what Atkinson instilled — and a reminder of the fine line between replication and innovation in coaching trees.
On the floor, Cleveland’s nearly full-strength roster offers Atkinson flexibility, but the Cavs’ core will need to navigate a Suns team that mixes athleticism, shooting and a refreshed strategic mindset.
While the scoreboard will matter, Wednesday’s game is a microcosm of NBA evolution: the passing of ideas, the influence of mentorship and the subtle, strategic battles that unfold over years before manifesting on a single night — watching the ripple effects of Cleveland’s past coaching influence collide with its present trajectory.
And as 2025 winds to a close, the Cavs’ get a better understanding of how effectively they adapt to an opponent that knows them intimately — from the hardwood to the whiteboard. New Year’s Eve promises a unique basketball spectacle.
A reunion, a chess match and a preview of the next evolution of the NBA’s coaching ecosystem.
How to watch the Cavs: See how to watch the Cavs games with this handy game-by-game TV schedule.
Here’s what to know about the matchup:
Who: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Phoenix Suns
Series: First of two matchups in the regular season.
Where: Rocket Arena
When: 3:30 p.m. ET.
The point spread: Cavs minus-5.5; O/U 235.5
TV: FanDuel Sports Network – Ohio & NBA TV
Injury report
Cavs
Probable:
Sam Merrill (left hip; soreness)
Out:
Chris Livingston (G League – Two-Way)Larry Nance Jr. (right calf; strain)Max Strus (left foot; Jones fracture surgery)Luke Travers (G League – Two-Way)
Suns
Questionable:
Ryan Dunn (right knee; contusion)
Doubtful:
Grayson Allen (right knee; injury management)
Out:
Jalen Green (right hamstring; strain)