Cavs Fight for NBA Cup Survival Against the Hawks
So, here’s what’s going on with the Cleveland Cavaliers as they head into this final group-play matchup against the Atlanta Hawks. It feels like every year since the NBA introduced the NBA Cup, the Cavs have been hovering right on the edge of breaking through—always close enough to imagine advancing, but just far enough to miss the cut at the last second. And this season? It’s more of that same tightrope walk.
Friday night’s game in Atlanta isn’t just another regular-season contest. It’s essentially a do-or-die situation for Cleveland. They’re not eliminated, but they’re definitely not cruising either. They’re right in the middle—alive, but needing everything to line up in their favor. And the first part of that equation is simple: the Cavs must beat the Hawks.
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But winning alone won’t guarantee anything. After that, everything gets tangled up in point differential and results from games they can’t control. Their advancement depends on how things shake out between Miami, New York, Milwaukee, Orlando, and even Detroit. If New York beats Milwaukee, the Cavs have to finish ahead of Miami. If the Bucks win, then Cleveland must top Milwaukee in differential instead. And if Detroit somehow pulls off an upset, they’ll have to stay above Orlando. It’s pretty much a math maze—one the Cavs don’t get to navigate themselves.
The good news? They can control how they perform on Friday night. So running up the score, if possible, becomes part of the mission. Every point matters in this race.
The matchup itself is the second of four meetings this season and will be played at State Farm Arena with tipoff at 7:30 p.m. ET. Oddsmakers currently have the Cavs favored by 5.5, with a very high over/under of 240.5—so expectations are pointing toward a fast-paced, high-scoring game.
As for who’s available, Cleveland will be missing Max Strus, Sam Merrill, Chris Livingston, and Luke Travers. Jarrett Allen is listed as probable, which is a big boost, while Craig Porter Jr. and Dean Wade are questionable. Atlanta has some major absences of its own: Trae Young is out with an MCL sprain, along with N’Faly Dante and Nikola Djurisic.
So the stage is set for a game that’s carrying more weight than usual. The Cavs have been close to breaking into the NBA Cup bracket before, and this is another moment where everything—from execution to point margins—will matter. If they want to keep their hopes alive, this is the night to make it happen.
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