Cleveland, OH
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Washington Wizards preview: Taking care of business
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Washington Wizards square off in a battle between the top and bottom seeds in the Eastern Conference.
Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (18-3) vs. Washington Wizards (2-16)
Where: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse – Cleveland, OH
When: 7:00 p.m., Tuesday Dec. 3
TV: Fanduel Sports Network Ohio (previously Bally Sports), NBA League Pass
Line: Cavs -16
Expected Cavs starting lineup: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Isaac Okoro, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen.
Cavs injury report: Ty Jerome – QUESTIONABLE (illness) Max Strus – OUT (ankle), Emoni Bates – OUT (knee), Dean Wade – QUESTIONABLE (ankle), JT Thor – OUT (G League), Luke Travers – OUT (G League)
Expected Wizards starting lineup: Jordan Poole, Malcom Brogdon, Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, Alex Sarr
Wizards injury report: Kyle Kuzma – OUT (rib), Saddiq Bey – OUT (knee), Tristen Vukcevic – OUT (knee)
Fear the Sword will be hosting a live stream watch party for select games this year on Playback. Join Tony Pesta as we react to all the action.
There will be no NBA Cup implications as both Cleveland and Washington have already been eliminated. Yet, this is another opportunity for the Cavaliers to add to their win total and fend off the Boston Celtics — who are quickly challenging the Cavs for the No. 1 seed despite their undefeated start.
Battle of youth
The Wizards are still in the thick of a rebuild. That means prospects such as Bilil Coulibaly, Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George and Carlton “Bub” Carrington will all be on the floor tonight as the Cavaliers get a glimpse of this developing talent.
Sarr will pose an interesting matchup for Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. The No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, Sarr recently put up 20 points on 4-5 three-point shooting against the Chicago Bulls. It didn’t translate to a win (not even close) but Sarr’s potential floor spacing could give Cleveland’s frontcourt another chance at polishing their defense against perimeter-oriented bigs.
Getting back to Cleveland’s roots
The Cavaliers have predicated themselves on defense. Over the last three years, that’s been their calling card. But this year, things are beginning to shift — with the Cavs scoring in bunches and sometimes, not bringing the same energy on the defensive end.
The defense has slipped, falling to 19th over the last two weeks. They’ve struggled to contain the point of attack as drive-and-kick opportunities have led to a barrage of three-point shooting against them. Opponents are shooting the second-highest three-point percentage in the NBA versus Cleveland.
This is a trend the Cavaliers should look to course correct in tonight’s matchup. The Wizards have some firepower on offense but not enough to give this team any problems — as long as they take this matchup seriously.
Cleveland, OH
Rock-n-Roll Hall of Famer’s journey starts in Cleveland
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Life’s been good for Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Joe Walsh.
He left a local band, the Measles, and replaced guitarist Glenn Schwarts, who moved to California and joined Pacific Gas & Electric, in Cleveland trio The James Gang in 1968.
It didn’t take long for the music world to notice.
“Guys like Jimmy Page, Led Zepplin guitarist, were like, ‘Oh my God, who is this guy,’” said longtime friend and former manager David Spero. “Pete Townshend, of the Who, when he saw the James Gang, invited them to come and do their European tour.”
“He’s absolutely one of the greatest guitar players out there,” Spero added. “(And) he’s an amazing songwriter.”
But before fame and notoriety, Joe Walsh, born Joseph Fidler in Wichita, Kansas in 1947, came to Northeast Ohio to attend Kent State University.
“Joe became Joe Walsh in the Cleveland area,” Spero remembered. “Kent State, while they were playing, learning the game, coming up through the clubs, opening for this act or that act and then becoming a headliner, that all was drinking the Northeast Ohio water.”
He returned to Kent State for May Fourth commemorations and remains close to friends in the area, even after he joined seventies, Southern California supergroup, The Eagles, for their masterpiece, the “Hotel California” album.
“He’s a major part of the Eagles and if people go to see them live, that last half hour, forty minutes of the show is pretty much all Joe,” said Spero.
Joe Walsh was inducted into the Rock Hall with the Eagles in 1998 but friends, fans, and colleagues say there should be more nominations.
“Joe Walsh deserves to be like the Eric Claptons or Neil Youngs, a three-time guy,” said Spero.
“The James Gang as a power trio,” he said of other nominations for Walsh’s music like “Funk 49″ and “Walk Away.” “The stuff he has done as a solo artist has been huge, ‘Rocky Mountain Way,’ ‘Life’s Been Good.’”
Known as “Average Joe” and “The Clown Prince of Rock” for some of his antics, Walsh wild side is legendary.
“Joe had gone out and bought an electric glue gun and proceeded to take everything in his hotel room and glue it on the ceiling,” Spero remembered. “I think that bill was about $59000. So Joe was a bit crazy.”
But Spero says, at heart, Joe’s just a Northeast Ohio guy.
“When Joe looks back on things, he’s so fond of this area,” Spero reminisces. “Home is where the heart is, I think he would say Northeast Ohio.”
“He’s a good guy,” Spero concludes. “He has that Northeast Ohio mentality.”
Copyright 2025 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Cleveland, OH
How to watch the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New Orleans Pelicans game tonight: Time, Streaming, Breakdown
Oh man, what a great game to watch as a Cavs fan. The Cavaliers pulled out a massive win against the Hornets, getting revenge for their overtime loss. Offense was on fire, Darius Garland had a double-double. Donovan Mitchell had 30 for himself, and we saw the return of De’Andre Hunter dominance in a 139-132 win.
Now the Cavaliers (16-14) play another team that has yet to reach the 10 win mark in the New Orleans Pelicans (8-22). They should not be taken lightly though as they have recently had a resurgence in the season with a five game winning streak.
They have not let rumors of some big trades affect them in this run either. Zion has not played a ton of games yet but since his return the team has looked rejuvenated under interim head coach James Borrego.
The win against the Hornets was massive for the Cavs with Owner Dan Gilbert being reportedly very concerned and players like Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen being in trade rumors.
Watching last night’s game, one of the few concerns should be centered around the defense. Up by as much as 19 in the fourth quarter, they only won by 7 in the end.
It was one win for the Cavaliers, but it felt like an earned win that could flip the season. Cleveland is still being patient with reigning Coach of the Year Kenny Atkinson despite the rough start.
Where to find the Pelicans vs. Cavs game tonight?
Channel: FanDuel Sports Network – Ohio
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Pelicans vs. Cavs Injury Report
Pelicans: Dejounte Murray (achilles) is out.
Cavs: Max Strus (foot) is out. Larry Nance Jr. (knee) is out. Evan Mobley (calf) is out.
Probable Starting Lineups
Pelicans
Pelicans vs. Cavaliers predictions, odds, best bets
Odds: Cavaliers by 9.5
O/U: 244.5
Cavaliers 134 , Pelicans 125: Defense seems to be the question here. They can score as much as they want, but can the Cavs with Evan Mobley stop a team from scoring a ton.
New Orleans is among the worst defensive teams in points allowed in a game and are worse than the Cavs when it comes to rebounding, which is a rare occurrence this season. Cleveland has all the tools to go out and blow out the Pelicans if they can get their team together.
Cavaliers 2025-2026 Schedule
- Thursday, Dec. 25 @ New York
- Saturday Dec. 27 @ Houston
- Monday, Dec. 29 @ San Antonio
Cleveland, OH
VIDEO: Cavaliers Center Humbled By Big Tumble After Taunting Opponent
Cavs center Thomas Bryant thought he had the rookie, until he didn’t.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Thomas Bryant learned the hard way that karma moves quicker than Donovan Mitchell in transition.
Bryant was on the wrong side of a replay after backing down Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel for a hook shot.
The journeyman center couldn’t resist an over-the-top celebration … so Bryant flexed his way downcourt, hitting the “too small” gesture at the 20-year-old. Then, gravity struck. Hard.
CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 22: Miles Bridges #0 of the Charlotte Hornets drives to the basket as Thomas Bryant #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers plays defense during the game on December 22, 2025 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
Bryant tripped over thin air, barrel-rolling across the hardwood as he ran back on defense. The Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse crowd went from cheers to raspberries … with the tumbling Bryant looking very small on the floor.
WATCH:
There’s no question Bryant wishes he were riding the same high that Kon has all season.
The rook is leading the Rookie of the Year race, averaging 19.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists. While Bryant celebrated his layup against a smaller defender, Knueppel celebrated his 100th made three-point shot in just 29 games.
Social media roasted the big man for celebrating too early. “Ball don’t lie is undefeated. Don’t disrespect the opponent when you’re ‘Thomas Bryant,’” one fan posted on X.
The 6-foot-10 vet, who inked a deal with Cleveland this offseason to add some interior muscle, is not expected to do much from the limited scorer.
Go for the fist pump next time, pal.
Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
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