Cavaliers Face Bulls in Preseason Opener Tonight in Cleveland

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland Cavaliers will host the Chicago Bulls for their preseason opener tonight, October 7, at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse at 7 p.m. ET.

After a stellar 2024-25 season, where they finished with a 64-18 record and the top spot in the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers are looking to build on their momentum. The team is led by First Team All-NBA selection Donovan Mitchell, who will be supported by Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, and newcomer Lonzo Ball.

Despite their strong regular-season finish, the Cavaliers were eliminated in the conference semifinals by the Indiana Pacers. Head coach Kenny Atkinson is eager to see how the team performs as they prepare for another season.

The Bulls, on the other hand, are trying to improve after a disappointing 39-43 season. They made it to the play-in tournament but ultimately lost to the Miami Heat. The Bulls’ roster features key players like Josh Giddey, Coby White, and Nikola Vučević, who are expected to lead the charge this season.

In their recent trades, the teams swapped Lonzo Ball for Isaac Okoro, adding intrigue to tonight’s matchup. Both teams will be wary of players’ injuries as the Bulls may have to deal with Coby White’s calf issue.

Fans can catch the game live on FanDuel Sports Network Ohio. This game marks the first opportunity for fans to see how both teams are shaping up for the upcoming regular season, and despite preseason outcomes not significantly impacting the standings, excitement remains high.

Tonight’s matchup will provide an early look at Cleveland’s strategies as well as how Chicago plans to revamp its approach in the new season.