Cleveland's next game isn't until October 22, at Philadelphia on ESPN, with a home date against Brooklyn two days later. Three Cavaliers are listed day-to-day with the same target return date as the opener itself.
When do the Cavs play again, and where can you watch?
Cleveland's last game was the October 13 preseason loss at Orlando. The next one is nine days later: October 22 at the 76ers, on ESPN. Two days after that, the Cavs are home against the Nets. Those are the only two games on this week's slate — the Timberwolves and Wizards follow October 26 and 28, but this week belongs to Philadelphia and Brooklyn.
Are Merrill, Tomlin and Diop good to go for the opener?
Sam Merrill is day-to-day with a right elbow issue. Nae'Qwan Tomlin is day-to-day with a back issue. Khalifa Diop is day-to-day with a left knee issue. All three carry the same estimated return date: October 22, the day of the opener in Philadelphia. An estimate isn't a clearance — none of the three is listed as cleared yet, so Cleveland's health for that game is still unsettled.
Why is Philadelphia the game that matters this week?
It's the regular-season opener, and it's on ESPN. Preseason ended with two results against Orlando and one against Boston — none of it counts. October 22 is the first game that does, against a conference opponent, with a national audience watching how this roster actually looks once something is on the line.
What's on the schedule right after Philly?
Two days later, October 24, the Cavs host the Nets at home — the only other game that falls in this stretch. The Timberwolves and Wizards follow October 26 and 28, pushing right into a stretch of four games in eleven days once the season actually opens. No rest days, back-to-backs or road trips have been detailed for this stretch yet, so the shape of the schedule beyond the opener is still just names on a calendar.
When do the Cavaliers play their next game?
October 22, on the road against the 76ers, televised on ESPN.
Will Sam Merrill, Nae'Qwan Tomlin and Khalifa Diop play in the opener?
All three are day-to-day with an estimated return of October 22, the day of the opener, but none has been cleared yet.
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