CLEVELAND, Ohio — When the Cavs (34-21) step onto the floor at Rocket Arena on Thursday night against the Brooklyn Nets (15-38), they won’t just be opening the post–All-Star break portion of their schedule. They’ll be stepping into the final 27 games that will define who they are heading into the playoffs.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Eastern, but the bigger clock is already ticking.
Cleveland enters the night riding a five-game winning streak, having won nine of its last 10, climbing to fourth in the Eastern Conference with momentum and a clearer path toward full strength. The returns of Dean Wade and Evan Mobley on Thursday push the Cavs closer to whole again — and that matters more than the opponent across from them.
Because while Brooklyn doesn’t carry the same weight as upcoming matchups against the Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks or Detroit Pistons, this stretch isn’t about measuring up to contenders just yet. It’s about measuring themselves.
This is the first night of a back-to-back. It’s also the start of five games in seven nights. The schedule will bring answers in rotations, in lineup combinations, in who closes and who complements. The Cavs are still integrating Dennis Schröder, Keon Ellis and, most importantly, James Harden into a group that is trying to sharpen its identity before April arrives.
Reps matter. Timing matters. Understanding which five-man units bend games in their favor matters.
Cleveland doesn’t have the luxury of waiting for chemistry to form organically. The playoffs will demand instinct and cohesion. That process begins now, even against an opponent that won’t test their ceiling.
The Cavs have been winning. Now they need to learn.
Who works best next to Harden? How do they balance size and spacing as Mobley returns to the fold? Which combinations generate stops when the margin tightens? These are the answers the final 27 games are designed to reveal.
The standings can shift. Seeding can improve. But only if Cleveland uses this stretch to establish a consistent identity.
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. Washington Wizards
Series: Second of three matchups in the regular season.
Where: Rocket Arena.
When: 7 p.m. ET.
The point spread: Cavs minus-16.5; O/U 230.5
TV: FanDuel Sports Network – Ohio
Injury report
Cavs
Out:
Tristan Enaruna (G League – Two-Way)Emanuel Miller (G League – Two-Way)Riley Minix (G League – Two-Way)Max Strus (left foot; Jones fracture surgery)Nae’Qwan Tomlin (left calf; soreness)
Nets
Out:
Nic Claxton (right ankle; sprain)Tyson Etienne (G League – Two-Way)Chaney Johnson (G League – Two-Way)E.J. Liddell (G League – Two-Way)Josh Minott (G League – On Assignment)Ben Saraf (G League – On Assignment)