CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs continue their two-game homestand on Monday night at Rocket Arena against the Utah Jazz. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Eastern.
Game 41 officially marks the halfway point of the season. For a Cavaliers team still trying to define itself, they can either build on momentum or give it back.
Cleveland enters at 22-18, winners of five of its last seven and fresh off arguably its most complete performance of the year, a 146-point outburst against Minnesota on Saturday — Cleveland’s sixth-highest scoring game in franchise history. It was also only the second time in team history that five players scored 20 or more points in a regular-season game, and just the 10th time league-wide since 2000.
That win reminded the Cavs of who they can be.
Forty games in, Cleveland sits seventh in the Eastern Conference. The Cavs are still in the play-in picture, yet only three games separate them from third place, currently held by Boston, with New York and Detroit rounding out the top three. That congestion is both encouraging and unforgiving. Nights like Saturday create upward pressure. Nights like Monday decide whether it actually matters.
Utah arrives at 13-25 with the league’s worst defensive rating at 122.0. On paper, it reads like a get-right game. In reality, it’s another must-win for the Cleveland.
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. Utah Jazz
Series: First of two matchups in the regular season.
Where: Rocket Arena.
When: 7 p.m. ET.
The point spread: Cavs minus-12.5; O/U 250.5
TV: FanDuel Sports Network – Ohio
Injury report
Cavs
Out:
Chris Livingston (G League – Two-Way)Max Strus (left foot; Jones fracture surgery)Luke Travers (G League – Two-Way)Dean Wade (left knee; contusion)
Jazz
Probable:
Jusuf Nurkić (left first MTP; sprain)
Questionable:
Ace Bailey (left hip flexor; strain)
Out:
Elijah Harkless (G League – Two-Way)Walker Kessler (left shoulder; injury recovery)Georges Niang (left foot; fourth metatarsal stress reaction)John Tonje (G League – Two-Way)Oscar Tshiebwe (G League – Two-Way)