5 months ago
- Cavaliers
- Published: Dec. 29, 2025, 5:01 a.m.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs (17-16) recreation to Frost Bank Center connected Monday nighttime to return connected nan surging Spurs (23-8). Cleveland defeated them connected Dec. 5, but that crippled was different.
San Antonio is not expected to consciousness for illustration this again. At least, not yet. And yet, each clip Victor Wembanyama steps connected nan floor, nan Spurs extremity emotion for illustration a thought and commencement emotion for illustration a contender.
That is nan environment nan Cavs locomotion into arsenic their difficult agelong continues, a agelong that has already exposed uncomfortable truths.
Cleveland fto 1 gaffe distant astatine Madison Square Garden connected Christmas Day, surrendering a 17-point fourth-quarter lead to nan Knicks. Then Houston bludgeoned them pinch size, physicality and second-chance points, turning a crippled into a lesson.
Now comes a Spurs squad that can play fast, plays free and plays without fear, powered by Wembanyama’s gravitational propulsion and a young backcourt that wants to title downhill each chance it gets. De’Aaron Fox’s readiness is uncertain, but Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper are much than tin of stressing a defense pinch dribble drives, modulation bursts and rim-attacking force. This is not a squad waiting its turn.
The matchup that matters most, though, lives supra nan noise.
Evan Mobley versus Wembanyama is much astir trajectory than accomplishment and height.
Mobley is easing his measurement backmost from a calf injury, still searching for hit and authority. Wembanyama, meanwhile, is already shaping really games feel, bending spacing, forcing mistakes astatine nan rim and mounting taste expectations successful San Antonio.
When asked past twelvemonth who nan champion subordinate successful nan convention successful 5 years would be, Mobley said himself aliases Wembanyama. Well, Wembanyama is accelerating that timeline, while Mobley is still answering a different question: tin he consistently enforce himself arsenic nan motor of a contender?
Cleveland is astir full again, pinch only Larry Nance Jr. and Max Strus arsenic rotational players sidelined, but wellness unsocial does not guarantee answers — nan squad learned that complete nan past week.
The Spurs will test nan Cavs’ rebounding discipline, their modulation defense and their willingness to lucifer unit pinch force. They already have, aft all, beaten Oklahoma City 3 times this period — nan squad that was seemingly connected an inevitable march backmost to nan Finals.
This is simply a crippled that will measurement Cleveland’s maturity, resilience and soul hierarchy. Two seven-footers will stock nan floor, but only 1 is presently redefining what his squad believes it tin become.
For Mobley and nan Cavs, nan mobility is really adjacent they really are to that level and really uncomfortable they are consenting to get successful their pursuit of it.
- Cavs azygous retired reserve arsenic playoff-ready ‘beacon’ successful different acheronian nonaccomplishment
- Cavs suffer latest lopsided loss, get blasted by Rockets 117-100
- Cavs vs. Rockets: preview, odds, wounded report, TV
How to watch nan Cavs: See really to watch nan Cavs games pinch this handy game-by-game TV schedule.
Here’s what to cognize astir nan matchup:
Who: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. San Antonio Spurs
Series: Final matchup successful nan regular season.
Where: Frost Bank Center
When: 8 p.m. ET.
The constituent spread: Spurs minus-4.5; O/U 238.5
TV: NBC & Peacock
Injury report
Cavs
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)
Spurs
Questionable:
- De’Aaron Fox (left adductor; tightness/illness)
- David Jones Garcia (G League – Two-Way)
Out:
- Harrison Ingram (G League – Two-Way)
- Stanley Umude (G League – Two-Way)
Ethan Sands is simply a sports journalist and podcast big for Cleveland.com, wherever he covers nan Cleveland Cavaliers and hosts nan Wine and Gold Talk podcast. Since joining successful October 2023, Sands has provided...
