The Cavs are ready to start 2026 with a win.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are at home for their first game of 2026. They’ll host the Denver Nuggets as they look for their third win in a row.
No Joke(r)
Sorry, Cavs fans. If you bought tickets to see Nikola Jokic play on Friday night, then you’ll be disappointed. Jokic went down with a knee injury earlier this week and is already ruled OUT for this matchup.
It’s been a rough year for star opponents coming to Cleveland. Cavs fans have already missed out on Stephen Curry and Victor Wembanyama this season. Now, they’ll miss the three-time MVP, as well.
Denver doesn’t have much experience playing without Jokic. He’s been available for 70+ games in all but one season of his career. It’s hard to tell what this team looks like without him, considering their entire roster construction is built around using him as a hub.
Joker isn’t the only one who will miss this game. Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun and Cam Johnson are also listed as OUT, while Jamal Murray is probable.
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Rotations
Kenny Atkinson finally pulled the plug on Lonzo Ball’s place in the rotation. He’s been lapped by Craig Porter Jr. in a move that has reaped immediate rewards.
Let’s see if this sticks.
Atkinson has cautioned that this move is not permanent and that Ball will get another chance to re-earn minutes in the rotation. But it’s clear that Porter fits what this team needs and is flat-out playing better than Zo.
Porter’s been hugely impactful recently. Keep an eye on whether he remains as the backup point guard tonight.
New Year, New Cavs
Has this team turned the corner?
All indicators point towards a happier and healthier 2026 for the Cavs. We don’t want to jinx anything, but the team has been trending in the right direction since the week before Christmas. They’ve picked up two of their best wins of the season since then, with massive wins over the San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns.
We know that none of this matters until the playoffs. And, the Cavs are far from being out of the woods just yet. But they’ve taken significant steps forward recently, and it’s important they keep on marching forward.
Category: General Sports
