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The Wine & Gold Report · Week ahead

Cleveland Gets a Short-Handed Thunder Twice to Open a Five-Game Week

Six Thunder players are listed out, Cleveland is 4-2 and fourth, and Friday and Saturday bring the week's only back-to-back.

4 questions
By the Cavaliers Nightly Desk · Sunday, November 1

The Cavaliers play five games in eight days, and the first two are against an Oklahoma City team missing six players. The hard part comes Nov. 6 and 7, when the 76ers and Knicks arrive on consecutive nights.

Cavaliers Nightly artwork
Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

What does the Cavaliers' week look like?

Five games in eight days. Monday, Nov. 2, is at home against the Thunder on Peacock and NBC Sports Network. Wednesday, Nov. 4, is at Oklahoma City. Friday, Nov. 6, brings the 76ers on Prime Video in an Emirates NBA Cup game, and Saturday, Nov. 7, the Knicks on NBA TV, both at home. Monday, Nov. 9, is at the Hornets.

Does Oklahoma City's injury list change the Thunder games?

It should. Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Thomas Sorber, Alex Caruso, Nikola Topic and Cason Wallace are all listed out. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander still averages 26.0 points through six games, and the Thunder are 4-2 despite losing two straight. Their net rating is minus-0.7 so far, against Cleveland's plus-4.3. Both numbers cover only six games each, so treat them loosely.

Where does the week get hard?

Friday and Saturday. Cleveland faces the 76ers and then the Knicks on back-to-back nights, both at home, so there is no travel but there is no extra rest. It is the only back-to-back of the week. The 76ers also beat Cleveland 114-106 in the season opener on Oct. 22, so Friday carries some unfinished business. The Hornets follow on Nov. 9.

Who is Cleveland missing?

Almost nobody. Jaylon Tyson moved from out to listed with a right ankle injury, and Nov. 2 is his return date. Meleek Thomas was cleared Oct. 31 after a foot problem and scored 13 points in 23 minutes at Milwaukee. No one else is on the injury list, which is rare for a team four games from a long road through the East.

The verdictCleveland is 4-2 and fourth, and Monday and Wednesday against a depleted Thunder are the games to take. Friday and Saturday will show whether the rotation holds up on consecutive nights.
When do the Cavaliers play the Thunder this week?

Cleveland hosts Oklahoma City on Monday, Nov. 2, on Peacock and NBC Sports Network, then plays at Oklahoma City on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

Is Jaylon Tyson playing against the Thunder?

Tyson is listed day-to-day with a right ankle injury, and Nov. 2 is his listed return date. He was out as recently as Oct. 30.

By the Cavaliers Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.

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