%201.png){kind=small}
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Philadelphia 76ers: game preview and how to watchThe Cavs will be playing basketball on TV again tonight which is something to celebrate. The available starters are expected to get some action so we should get our first look at the Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell backcourt which is reason enough to watch. You ultimately can’t take much away from these games.
The Cavs have a variety of options to start at the small forward spot but no clear-cut solution. The preseason will likely go a long way in determining who gets that position opening night. There has been high praise for Isaac Okoro, Caris LeVert and Dylan Windler throughout training camp. Each player would bring something different and unique to the starting lineup. Cedi Osman, Dean Wade and Lamar Stevens each have an outside chance to earn the starting nod as well. We won’t get the answer for who will be the starting small forward on opening night, but we could get a clue for who that person could be.
The Cavs opened up last preseason with a lopsided 131-95 loss to the Chicago Bulls. Nothing from that result was indicative of the season to come for the Cavs. You don’t want to put too much stock in what happens here either. That said, it’s still more fun to talk about actual basketball than theoretical basketball. Who: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Philadelphia 76ers Where: Wells Fargo Center - Philadelphia, PA When: 7:00 p. m. EST TV: NBA TV, Bally Sports Ohio, Bally Sports+ Opposing blog: Liberty Ballers Expected Cavs starting lineup: Darius Garland / Donovan Mitchell / Isaac Okoro / Dean Wade / Jarrett Allen Cavs injury report: Evan Mobley (OUT - right ankle), Dylan Windler (OUT - right ankle) Expected Sixers starting lineup: Tyrese Maxey / James Harden / Matisse Thybulle / Tobias Harris / Joel Embiid Sixers injury report: N/A Three things to watch The battle for the starting three.
The 15th roster spot. The Cavs have 14 roster spots all but locked up and have already filled their two two-way player slots. That leaves one spot up for grabs. The Cavs could very well leave that spot open going into the season to give them the maximum flexibility. That said, Mamadi Diakite, Jamorko Pickett, Nate Hinton, Khalifa Diop and Sharfile Cooper will each have a chance to show why they should fill that spot. We’ll see if any of those five can make a statement tonight.