The NBA schedule makers are a special breed. Every year, fans look at the 82-game marathon and try to find the easy stretches, but honestly, the Cavs regular season schedule for 2025-26 feels like a gauntlet. If you’ve been following the Wine and Gold lately, you know the vibes are high. The core is intact. Donovan Mitchell is still doing Spida things, and Evan Mobley looks like he’s finally ready to snatch that Defensive Player of the Year trophy. But talent only gets you so far when you’re staring down a January that includes more flights than a Delta pilot.
Kinda makes you wonder what the league was thinking.
Last season, Cleveland managed to rack up 64 wins, which was frankly insane. They claimed the top spot in the East and made everyone in the Central Division look silly. But the playoffs? That lopsided five-game series loss to the Indiana Pacers still stings. This year isn't just about winning games; it’s about surviving the schedule with enough legs to actually do something in May.
Breaking Down the Key Games on the Cavs Regular Season Schedule
You've probably already circled the big ones. The season opener against the Knicks on October 22 was a statement—even if it ended in a tough 119-111 loss. It set the tone. Cleveland is a national TV draw now. We’re talking 29 national appearances across ESPN, ABC, NBC, and even Amazon Prime.
The Christmas Day game at Madison Square Garden was a massive milestone. It had been nearly a decade since the Cavs played on Christmas. Facing Jalen Brunson and the Knicks on a holiday? That’s peak basketball. Even though the Cavs dropped that one 126-124 in a heartbreaker, it proved they belong on the big stage.
But the real meat of the Cavs regular season schedule is happening right now in January.
Look at this stretch:
- Jan 14: vs. Philadelphia (7:00 PM)
- Jan 16: vs. Philadelphia (Home-and-home sets are weird, right?)
- Jan 19: @ Oklahoma City (The MLK Day matinee on NBC)
- Jan 21: vs. Charlotte (Rivals Week—kinda forced, but we'll take it)
- Jan 23: @ Sacramento (The dreaded West Coast swing begins)
That Oklahoma City matchup on January 19 is basically a potential Finals preview. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander versus Mitchell is worth the price of admission alone. Then you've got the Chet Holmgren and Jarrett Allen battle in the paint. It’s a chess match at 100 miles per hour.
The New Rivals and the NBA Cup
The NBA Cup (yeah, we're still calling it that) added a weird layer to the November schedule. The Cavs were tucked into East Group A with the Pacers, Hawks, Wizards, and Raptors. That November 21 game against Indiana at Rocket Arena? That wasn't just a Cup game. That was personal.
The Pacers might be missing Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles injuries suck, let’s be real), but they still have Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard. Cleveland wanted blood after the playoff exit, and they got a 120-109 win to prove they aren't the same team that got bullied last spring.
Broadcast Chaos: Where to Actually Watch
Honestly, trying to find where the game is on any given night is a full-time job. FanDuel Sports Network (formerly Bally, for those still confused) is the main home for 70 of the games. John Michael and Brad Daugherty are still the gold standard in the booth.
But then you've got the random ones.
- Rock Entertainment Sports Network is simulcasting five games (like the March 3 game vs. Detroit).
- Peacock has exclusive Mondays (Nov 17 vs. Bucks, Jan 26 vs. Magic).
- Amazon Prime has some Friday nights.
If you're an out-of-market fan, League Pass is your best friend, but for us locals, it’s a constant dance between apps and cable boxes. Serena Winters and Cayleigh Griffin are back on the sidelines, and having Iman Shumpert join the pregame crew this year has been a blast. He brings that 2016 championship energy that the locker room sometimes needs.
The "LeBron Return" Narrative
Every year we do this. January 28. Mark it. The Los Angeles Lakers come to town. Is it LeBron's last game in Cleveland? Maybe. Probably not, knowing him, but the atmosphere at Rocket Arena is always different when the King returns. Seeing Evan Mobley try to defend LeBron is like a "passing of the torch" moment that’s been happening for four years now. It never gets old.
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Surviving the "Slog" of February and March
The schedule makers actually gave the Cavs a bit of a break in February. They only play 3 games in the first seven days of the month. That’s huge. Last year, they were playing a game every 1.9 days toward the end of the season, which basically ground the starters into dust.
This year, the softest part of the Cavs regular season schedule is actually the final month.
- March 15: vs. Dallas (Luka in Cleveland is always a problem)
- March 17: @ Milwaukee (The Giannis rivalry is getting spicy)
- April 8: vs. Atlanta (Final home stretch)
The additions of De'Andre Hunter and Lonzo Ball (who is finally looking healthy-ish) have given Coach Kenny Atkinson a much deeper bench. They’re going to need that depth when the back-to-backs hit in late March. You can’t ride Mitchell for 40 minutes a night in April and expect him to have anything left for the first round.
What the Numbers Say
The betting markets are actually high on Cleveland this year. They entered the season with +800 odds to win it all. People forget this team allowed just 107 points per game last year while scoring nearly 120. They are a statistical juggernaut.
The key is the Darius Garland health. He’s been dealing with that nagging toe injury, and his presence makes or breaks the flow when Mitchell sits. When Garland is on, the floor opens up for Max Strus to hunt those 3-pointers. When he’s off, the offense can get a bit "hero-ball" heavy.
Practical Steps for Cavs Fans
If you're planning to follow the rest of the Cavs regular season schedule without losing your mind, here’s how to handle it.
First, download the FanDuel Sports Network app and check your login now, not five minutes before tip-off. The blackout rules are still a nightmare, so if you're in-market, don't rely on League Pass for the local games.
Second, keep an eye on the injury reports for those back-to-back sets in March. The Cavs have a tendency to "rest" Jarrett Allen or Evan Mobley on the second night of a road trip. If you’re buying tickets for a specific matchup, try to pick the first game of a home stand to ensure the stars are actually on the floor.
Lastly, watch the standings in the Central Division. The battle with the Bucks is going to come down to the wire. Every game in March against a divisional opponent is basically a double-win if they can pull it off.
The path to the 2026 NBA Finals goes through a very specific set of road trips and late-night West Coast games. Cleveland has the roster to do it; they just have to survive the calendar.