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[WATCH/STREAMS!] Cavaliers vs Nets Live Free Online Broadcast 25 October 2023
The Brooklyn Nets host the Cleveland Cavaliers to open the 2023-24 NBA Season at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on Wednesday, October 25 (10/25/2023) at 7:30 p.m. ET. How to watch Brooklyn Nets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: NBA Season Opener time, TV channel, live stream
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Nets vs. Cavaliers will air in market on YES Network and Bally Sports Ohio, and can be streamed live on DirecTV Stream (free trial).
The Nets went 2-2 in the preseason, winning just one game against an NBA opponent, 107-104 over the Miami Heat. Ben Simmons, Spencer Dinwiddie, Cameron Johnson and the rest will look to improve upon their impressive 2022-23 season, which saw Brooklyn reach Round 1 of the Playoffs after clinching a postseason spot with a 45-37 record.
The Cavs went 1-3 in the preseason, earning their only win in an exhibition game with Israeli squad Maccabi Ra’anana. Last year, Cleveland clinched a postseason berth with a 51-31 record, but fell to the New York Knicks in just five games during Round 1 of the Playoffs.
The Cavaliers lead the Nets 107-84 in their all-time head-to-head series, and beat them 2-1 across meetings last season. Here’s how to tune in on Wednesday.
What: NBA Regular Season Game
Who: Cleveland Cavaliers @ Brooklyn Nets
When: Wednesday, October 25
Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: YES, Bally Sports
The Cavaliers went 51-31 in the 2022-23 regular season and made the postseason before being eliminated in the First Round. The Nets went 45-37 a season ago and lost in the First Round.
The Cavaliers match up with the Nets in a game that Cleveland is currently a moderate favorite by 2.5 points. The over/under for the game is set at 219.5.
The Cavaliers bolstered their roster in the offseason, re-signing G Caris LeVert, while upgrading at the 3 with SF Max Strus coming over from Miami in a sign-and-trade deal. Watch rookie SF Emoni Bates, a 2nd round pick, who could surprise, too.
The Nets tried to make a “Big 3” in recent seasons, but it ended up being more of a big mess instead. Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving are now all elsewhere. More team-oriented and defensive-minded players like Mikal Bridges, Dorian Finney-Smith and Cam Johnson join the underrated Spencer Dinwiddie in the borough. It might not have the flashy names and big-time followings, but there is a lot less baggage, too.
The NETS (-105) are worth playing at near even-money, as the Cavaliers (-115) emerge from the preseason a little banged up.
The fact Allen is sidelined leaves a big hole in the paint for the visitors, while Garland carries a 50-50 tag. There is just a lot more concern and doubt for the Cavs, and that tips the scales in favor of the short ‘dogs at home.
It makes no sense to play the Nets +1.5 (-115), while paying, essentially, for one point. Unless you feel the Cavs -1.5 (-105) are going to win, but only by a single point, just play Brooklyn straight up on the moneyline for a much better value.
Brooklyn will be a much more defensive-oriented team this season, while Cleveland will be missing Allen in the middle, while potentially also seeing Garland wearing street clothes to begin the season. Donovan Mitchell can fill up the stat sheet, but Spida can’t do it all for the Cavs. Cleveland might struggle to get into triple digits. This game certainly won’t get to the 220’s.
The Cavaliers begin this season with their highest expectations from a non-LeBron-led Cleveland team since the 1990s. Donovan Mitchell leads this team that currently has the seventh-best odds to win the NBA Finals this season. They are in this position because of how well-rounded their starting five is between the shiftiness and playmaking ability of their dynamic backcourt and their frontcourt's length and defensive intensity.
On the other hand, the Brooklyn Nets come into this season as one of the most intriguing teams in the league. After shipping out their big three of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden, they finally have a core group of players that want to be in Brooklyn. With all eyes on Ben Simmons, guys such as Mikal Bridges, Nic Claxton, Cam Thomas, and Cameron Johnson are poised to have breakout seasons. If all these guys can come together, this team will be a sleeper in a tough Eastern Conference.
It does hurt that the Cavaliers will be without big man Jarrett Allen in this season opener due to a _ injury. However, in the two years in Evan Mobley's career that he has played in games at center with Allen out, he has fared quite well. In 30 games without Allen, Mobley has averaged 16.4 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists. Most notably, he has been able to collect a Double-Double in 13 of these 30 games and a total +/- of 7. Many people expect Mobley to be in both the Most Improved Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year award conversations, and this is a big game for him to prove why he belongs in these discussions.
In the modern NBA, it seems as if a team will only go as far as its star player can take them. Luckily for the Cavaliers, the have one of the better superstars in the league. In his first year in Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell is coming off of one of the best seasons in his career. Specifically, in the two games Mitchell played on the road in Brooklyn last season, Mitchell was sensational. He averaged 31.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game and led the Cavaliers to a 2-0 record. With Darius Garland banged up, if Mitchell takes the reigns again like he did last season, the Nets will be in for a long night.
A significant advantage the Brooklyn Nets have over the Cavaliers and the entire NBA is the length of their backcourt. Neither of the guards Cleveland has in their starting lineup (Garland and Mitchell) stand above 6'3″. Meanwhile, Brooklyn's rotations of guards are a towering force. Projected starting point guard Ben Simmons stands at 6'10” and shooting guard Spencer Dinwiddie at 6'5″ creates a nightmare mismatch with this smaller pairing for the Cavaliers.
Similarly to a couple of other teams around the league, the Brooklyn Nets will look to take advantage of their opponent's injury woes. While the Nets enter this season with a fully healthy roster (except rookie Dariq Whitehead), the Cavaliers are a little worse for the wear. As mentioned earlier, starting center Jarrett Allen will miss this game, but Dean Wade and Ricky Rubio will join him. These two guys are critical players in their rotation. Lastly, they are accompanied by star point guard Darius Garland, who is 50/50 for this game with a hamstring injury.