Cavs Aim to End Two-Game Skid Against Kings Tonight

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Cavaliers are set to face off against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night at 10 p.m. ET at Golden 1 Center, eager to snap a two-game losing streak.

After a remarkable run of 16 consecutive victories, the Cavaliers have recently faltered, suffering a 132-119 defeat to the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday. Cleveland’s initial strong start, which saw them score a combined 83 points in the first quarter of their last two games, has been undermined by an inability to maintain that offensive momentum, with fewer than 30 points in the next three quarters.

Currently tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder for the best record in the NBA at 56-12, the Cavaliers are looking to regain their footing against a Kings team that will be without key player Domantas Sabonis, sidelined for at least 10 games due to a right ankle sprain.

“We need to refocus and come out strong,” Cavaliers’ forward Evan Mobley said ahead of the matchup.

Mobley, returning from a one-game absence, is expected to play a crucial role for Cleveland. His size and growing skill set will be vital against a Kings team missing the offensive anchor and playmaker that Sabonis provides.

In addition to Sabonis’ absence, the Kings have also had to adjust to the departure of De’Aaron Fox earlier in the season, resulting in an offensive strategy that lacks high-post facilitation and leads to a significant rebounding disadvantage.

Despite their struggles, the Kings bolstered their roster by acquiring Zach LaVine, who will pair with DeMar DeRozan as they navigate tonight’s challenge.

Cavaliers’ coach J.B. Bickerstaff emphasized the importance of maintaining defensive pressure: “We’ve got to exploit our size and skill advantages in the paint. This is a great opportunity for us.”

One of the players poised to impact the game is De’Andre Hunter, acquired at the trade deadline. Known for his versatile defensive capabilities, Hunter’s challenge will be to contain LaVine and DeRozan, two prolific scorers renowned for their mid-range prowess.

“I’m ready for the challenge,” said Hunter. “It’s all about being smart and making the right plays.”

Cleveland enters the game with the league’s top-ranked offense and will be keen to exploit Sacramento’s defensive setbacks, particularly given the Kings’ struggle to contain shots from beyond the arc.

As the odds indicate, with Cleveland favored by 5.5 points, the Cavaliers aim to leverage their shooting accuracy—ranking high in three-point shot attempts—against the Kings’ lackluster perimeter defense, which allows a league-high 38.3% shooting from three.

The Cavaliers’ expected starting lineup features Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. The Kings will start Malik Monk, LaVine, DeRozan, Keegan Murray, and Jonas Valančiūnas, but will need to adjust without Sabonis.

As tip-off approaches, all eyes will be on Cleveland to see if they can turn their recent fortunes around and regain momentum in the tightly contested NBA season.