5 months ago
- Cavaliers
- Published: Dec. 31, 2025, 5:01 a.m.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Nostalgia will beryllium successful nan area astatine Rocket Arena for Wednesday night’s conflict betwixt nan Cavs and Suns.
Before nan shot tips, it whitethorn consciousness much for illustration a reunion than a modular end-of-year matchup, pinch storylines stretching acold beyond nan hardwood. While tipoff astatine 3:30 p.m. signals nan adjacent of nan 2025 almanac year, nan intrigue lies much successful nan coaching boxes, wherever aged connections and caller philosophies collide.
On 1 broadside is Kenny Atkinson, still solidifying his personality arsenic nan Cavs’ caput coach. Across nan tribunal stands Jordan Ott, a erstwhile Cleveland adjunct who helped style Evan Mobley’s violative leap, now starring a surging Suns squad.
Ott brings pinch him nan power and tactical fingerprints of personification intimately acquainted pinch Cleveland’s personnel, blending those lessons pinch nan broader situation of commanding a roster quiet for a playoff push.
Adding different layer, DeMarre Carroll, who spent a azygous play connected Cleveland’s unit past twelvemonth mentoring Jaylon Tyson and Craig Porter Jr., joins Ott successful Phoenix. His domiciled arsenic a improvement coach for helping players brings a subtle but tangible relationship to really nan Cavs’ young talent has been cultivated.
Mateen Cleaves, nan 14th wide prime successful 2000 and a erstwhile Cavs guard, is besides connected Ott’s chair successful a activity and subordinate improvement role. Cleaves spent six NBA seasons crossed Detroit, Sacramento, Cleveland, and Seattle, and now leverages that acquisition to mold Phoenix’s roster while carrying nan ethos of mentorship he honed arsenic nan head of activity coaching astatine United Wholesale Mortgage.
Phoenix enters pinch a 19-13 record, riding a four-game triumph streak and six victories successful its past 10 — a squad that will trial nan Cavs’ resolve.
Wednesday will beryllium nan first existent opportunity to spot conscionable really overmuch Cleveland has been missing Ott and his violative brilliance.
For Atkinson, nan crippled is much than an Xs-and-Os exercise. It’s a chance to spot really a first-generation coaching disciple has evolved aft leaving his tutelage. Ott’s attack to spacing, pick-and-roll sounds and versatility will beryllium a surviving reflection of what Atkinson instilled — and a reminder of nan good statement betwixt replication and invention successful coaching trees.
On nan floor, Cleveland’s astir full-strength roster offers Atkinson flexibility, but nan Cavs’ halfway will request to navigate a Suns squad that mixes athleticism, shooting and a refreshed strategical mindset.
While nan scoreboard will matter, Wednesday’s crippled is simply a microcosm of NBA evolution: nan passing of ideas, nan power of mentorship and nan subtle, strategical battles that unfold complete years earlier manifesting connected a azygous nighttime — watching nan ripple effects of Cleveland’s past coaching power collide pinch its coming trajectory.
And arsenic 2025 winds to a close, nan Cavs’ get a amended knowing of really efficaciously they accommodate to an force that knows them intimately — from nan hardwood to nan whiteboard. New Year’s Eve promises a unsocial hoops spectacle.
A reunion, a chess lucifer and a preview of nan adjacent improvement of nan NBA’s coaching ecosystem.
- The Cavs’ astir analyzable bet: Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen and a ticking clock
- Cavs heed Kenny Atkinson’s connection and a bold lineup alteration pays off: Chris Fedor’s Observations
- Cavs threat losing streak pinch 113-101 rally complete San Antonio Spurs
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. Phoenix Suns
Series: First of 2 matchups successful nan regular season.
Where: Rocket Arena
When: 3:30 p.m. ET.
The constituent spread: Cavs minus-5.5; O/U 235.5
TV: FanDuel Sports Network - Ohio & NBA TV
Injury report
Cavs
Probable:
- Sam Merrill (left hip; soreness)
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)
Suns
Questionable:
- Ryan Dunn (right knee; contusion)
Doubtful:
- Grayson Allen (right knee; wounded management)
Out:
- Jalen Green (right hamstring; strain)
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...
