LeBron, Wembanyama and more: Cleveland Cavaliers game dates to circle on the calendar
Time for a bit of honesty.
The NBA features many of the best athletes on the planet, playing one of the most exciting games in sports. The 82-game season, however, even with those first two statements being true, can be a slog.
That’s for the Cleveland Cavaliers and every other NBA team. There are, however, certain dates that get circled on a calendar during any season. Maybe there’s a certain star (LeBron James) or a certain rookie (Victor Wembanyama) worth checking out.
Revenge can always be a motivating factor. For the Cavs, this may need to be a season of redemption after being forced out of the playoffs in the opening round last season by the New York Knicks. There exists a fair amount of intrigue across the schedule, but here are some moments that should catch a fan’s eye:
New York Knicks return to face Cleveland Cavs on Halloween
At 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 31 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse vs. New York Knicks and the following night at Madison Square Garden:
It’s a rematch of the teams’ playoff series and the spookiest, kookiest, ookiest day of the year. What more could anyone ask for? No one will admit it, but given the criticism leveled at the Cavs over toughness against the Knicks in that series, they likely come into the game with something to prove. It could set a tone for future matchups throughout the season or fade into a distant memory.
LeBron James comes home as Lakers face Cavs Nov. 25
7:30 p.m. on Nov. 25 vs. Los Angeles Lakers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse:
LeBron James will be home for … Thanksgiving? OK, it’s a couple of days after. Still. It’s part of the holiday weekend.
This matchup will get the local spotlight to itself because the Browns will be tangling with the Denver Broncos in Denver. Truthfully, there is rarely much to recommend with early season NBA matches. However, by this time players are usually just getting settled in for that 82-game season and starting to feel it. Eventually, Thanksgiving gives way to the Christmas season and the mood around the NBA intensifies.
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Milwaukee Bucks bring post-Christmas presence in Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard
7:30 p.m., Dec. 29 vs. Milwaukee Bucks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse:
Merry Belated Christmas (is that a thing?). The Cavs get center-forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and point guard Damian Lillard (recently acquired) for a holiday season meeting. With Lillard’s trade to Milwaukee, the Bucks became the instant favorite to once again reign as NBA champions after flaming out spectacularly in the first round last season.
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Cavs will get up close and personal with rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama in 2024
1 p.m., Jan. 7 vs. San Antonio Spurs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse:
Two words. VICTOR. WEMBANYAMA. The 7-foot-3, 225-pound center from France arrives in the NBA via the Spurs (no, they don’t have enough championships) with enough hype to rival that received by LeBron James back in 2003. If there is a next big thing in the NBA – literally and figuratively – he very well may be it.
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Cleveland Cavs face West Coast gauntlet near season's end
March 31-April 7:
This is a brutal way to nearly close out the season — with a five-game, eight-day West Coast road trip where the Cavs don’t appear to be facing a stiff in the bunch. They play the NBA champion Denver Nuggets (March 31), Utah Jazz (April 2), Phoenix Suns (April 3), Los Angeles Lakers (April 6) and the Los Angeles Clippers (April 7). If the Cavs are in the playoff picture, this stretch could prove pivotal for overall playoff seeding with the regular season ending on April 14.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: The best Cavs games to watch on the NBA calendar this season
