The Houston Rockets take a four-game winning streak into Ohio to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Cleveland sits at second in the Eastern Conference, which is where most projections had them coming into the season. With a surprising Detroit team ahead of them, there’s an expectation that Cleveland will end up at the top of the East just like last season. They’re 10-5 despite only getting three games from Darius Garland and missing games from every player in the rotation besides Craig Porter Jr., who comes off the bench.
The Cavs are coming in on a two-game winning streak after wins over the Grizzlies and Bucks. They’ll lean on Donovan Mitchell for offense, with Sam Merrill and De’Andre Hunter taking the other shots from deep. Hunter, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen give them three good-to-great defensive players in the starting lineup. Off the bench are Porter Jr., Lonzo Ball, Dean Wade, and Nae’Qwan Tomlin. Obviously that would change if Garland and Jaylon Tyson are available.
The Cavs take more threes than anyone else. Meanwhile, the Rockets are at the bottom of the league in attempts. On the flip side, Houston is shooting them at a league-best percentage (42.6%) while the Cavs are 19th (35.1%). Defensively, the Cavs are susceptible to giving up free throws, which plays into Houston’s hands. So in the surprise of all surprises, this game will probably come down to three-point shooting and free throws. You’ve never seen that before, I know.
These teams will meet again on December 27 in Houston.
Space City Home Network, ESPN
Dorian Finney-Smith: OUT (ankle)
The Line (as of this post)
Looking ahead because we can
Friday night in Houston against the Denver Nuggets for the Falcon