You're stuck in I-77 traffic. It’s a rainy Tuesday. The wipers are thumping, and the brake lights ahead look like a sea of red. Most people would be stressed, but you’re actually okay. Why? Because Tim Alcorn is about to scream "He dots the i!" after a Darius Garland triple. There’s something visceral about the way we consume basketball in Northeast Ohio. While the world chases 4K streams and betting overlays, a massive chunk of the Wine and Gold faithful still prefer to listen to Cleveland Cavaliers game broadcasts on the radio. It isn’t just nostalgia. It’s better.
Basketball is a game of rhythm. TV cameras often miss the nuance—the defensive rotations, the off-ball screens, the frantic energy of the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse crowd. But the radio? The radio is theater. It’s been that way since the Joe Tait days, and that legacy carries a heavy weight in this city. If you aren't dialed into the right frequency, you're missing the heartbeat of the team.
Finding the Signal: Where to Tune In
If you are physically in the Cleveland area, your North Star is 1100 AM WTAM. It’s one of those legendary clear-channel stations that can practically reach the moon on a clear night. Since 1990, WTAM has been the flagship, though you can also catch the action on 100.7 WMMS if you prefer the FM clarity.
For fans living in the "outer rim"—places like Akron, Canton, or even out toward Youngstown—the Cavaliers Radio Network is a sprawling web. You’ve got stations like WHBC in Canton or WAKR in Akron picking up the slack. Honestly, the range is impressive. I’ve been as far south as Columbus and still managed to catch a fuzzy version of the pre-game show.
But what if you’re a digital native? This is where it gets slightly tricky because of blackout rules. You can’t just go to a station's website and hit "Play" during the game most of the time. The NBA is protective of its broadcasting rights. Usually, the stream on the station's desktop site will flip to syndicated talk shows or music the second tip-off happens. To truly listen to Cleveland Cavaliers game audio online, you generally need the NBA App and a subscription to League Pass Audio. It’s cheap—usually around ten bucks for the whole season—and it bypasses the regional headaches.
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The Voice Behind the Mic
We have to talk about Tim Alcorn and Jim Chones. Following Joe Tait is like following The Beatles; it’s an impossible task. Tait was the guy who could tell you the color of the jerseys and the mood of the ref just by the tone of his voice. Alcorn, who took the mantle a few seasons back, has carved out his own space. He brings a high-energy, "hometown" feel that feels authentic. He doesn't sound like a national announcer who just flew in. He sounds like a guy who grew up on Euclid Avenue.
Then there’s Jim Chones. "The Chief."
Having a former player like Chones on the color commentary is a cheat code. He doesn't just say "Evan Mobley blocked that shot." He explains that Mobley’s hip positioning was the reason the shooter had no angle. He sees the game three moves ahead. When those two get going during a tight fourth quarter, the radio broadcast feels more urgent than the TV feed ever could. It’s faster. Leaner.
Why Radio Survives in the Streaming Era
Let’s be real. Why would anyone choose to hear a game when they could watch it on a 65-inch OLED?
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Multitasking is the short answer. You can’t paint the spare bedroom while staring at a TV. You can’t mow the lawn or fix a leaky faucet while glued to a screen. Radio offers freedom. It turns chores into an event.
There's also the "Sync Factor." A lot of die-hard fans actually mute the TV and try to line up the radio audio with the video. It’s a nightmare to get perfectly synced because of the digital delay—radio is usually 5-10 seconds ahead of the TV stream—but if you have a DVR that lets you pause the live feed, you can match them up. Why do people go through the trouble? Because the local radio guys are "homers" in the best sense. They care if the Cavs win. National TV announcers often treat the Cavs like an afterthought or a "small market story." On the radio, every game is Game 7 of the Finals.
The Technical Hurdles of Listening Online
If you’re trying to use iHeartRadio or Audacy to listen to Cleveland Cavaliers game coverage, be prepared for the "Geo-Fence."
- The App Struggle: If your phone’s GPS says you are outside the Cleveland market, the app might block the game stream.
- The Solution: If you're out of town, the NBA App is the only 100% legal, reliable way.
- Alternative: SiriusXM. If you have a car subscription, the NBA channels (usually starting around channel 880) carry the home and away feeds for every single game. It’s crystal clear and works in the middle of a desert.
I once spent an entire playoff game in a tent in rural Pennsylvania, dangling a wire out of a portable radio just to hear the 1100 AM signal. It was staticky. It drifted in and out. But when the final whistle blew and we won, that crackly audio made the victory feel more hard-earned.
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The Cavs Spanish Radio Network
Cleveland is more diverse than people give it credit for, and the Cavs have leaned into that. Power 89.1 (WNZN) often carries the Spanish language broadcast. Rafael Hernandez Brito—the legendary "Rafa"—is a force of nature. Even if you don't speak a word of Spanish, listening to him call a Donovan Mitchell dunk is an experience. The "Goooool!" style energy he brings to a three-pointer is infectious. It’s a reminder that basketball is a universal language, even if the radio dial is localized.
Actionable Tips for the Best Listening Experience
Stop trying to find "free" bootleg streams on social media. They are laggy, they contain malware, and they usually get nuked by the NBA's legal team within ten minutes.
If you want the best experience, invest in a decent portable AM/FM radio with a long antenna. It sounds old-school because it is. But in a power outage or a cell tower "dead zone," that radio is your only link to the team. Also, check the schedule. The Cavs play a lot of "back-to-back" sets. If they are playing on the West Coast, those 10:00 PM starts are perfect for radio. You can lay in bed, put one earbud in, and let the sounds of the court drift you off to sleep—assuming the game isn't a nail-biter.
- Check WTAM 1100 for the primary broadcast in Northeast Ohio.
- Download the NBA App and look for the "Audio" section if you are out of state.
- Sync your DVR by pausing the TV for roughly 7 seconds to match the radio's live speed.
- Use SiriusXM Channel 89 for general NBA talk and specific game channels for the Cavs feed.
The next time you’re heading home from work and the sun is setting over Lake Erie, turn the knob. Skip the podcast. Skip the Spotify playlist. Find the game. There is no better way to feel like a part of the city than hearing the roar of the crowd through a speaker while you navigate the streets of Cleveland.