The NBA schedule is a grind, and if you blinked during the early January rush, you probably missed a wild one. Honestly, the most recent answer to what was the score of the cavaliers game is a bit of a shocker. On Monday, January 12, 2026, the Cleveland Cavaliers fell to the Utah Jazz with a final score of 123-112.
If you were expecting a blowout in favor of Cleveland, you weren't alone. The Cavs entered the night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse as massive 13.5-point favorites. Most experts basically penciled this in as a "get right" game for Cleveland after their rollercoaster road trip. Instead, the Jazz—who have been rebuilding and struggling on the road—completely flipped the script.
Why the Cavs dropped the ball
It's kinda wild when you look at the stats. The Cavaliers were fresh off a massive 146-134 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves just two days prior. They looked unstoppable. But against Utah, that offensive rhythm just... vanished.
The biggest factor? Efficiency. Utah’s Keyonte George went absolutely nuclear, dropping 32 points and dishing out 9 assists. Cleveland, on the other hand, felt the absence of Dean Wade and Max Strus. Without those floor spacers, the offense got stagnant. Even Donovan Mitchell, who has been playing at an MVP-caliber level this season averaging nearly 30 points a night, couldn't single-handedly bridge the 11-point gap in the fourth quarter.
💡 You might also like: El Salvador partido de hoy: Why La Selecta is at a Critical Turning Point
Breaking down the recent Cavs schedule
To really understand the context of what was the score of the cavaliers game, you have to look at the stretch leading up to this Utah upset. The Cavs have been one of the most unpredictable teams in the East lately.
- January 10: Cleveland 146, Minnesota 134 (A high-scoring masterclass).
- January 8: Minnesota 131, Cleveland 122 (The first half of a strange home-and-home).
- January 6: Cleveland 120, Indiana 116 (A gritty road win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse).
- January 4: Detroit 114, Cleveland 110 (Another head-scratching home loss).
You've probably noticed a pattern here. This team is scoring at will, but they’re also letting opponents hang around. Giving up 123 points to a Utah team that sits near the bottom of the Western Conference efficiency rankings is a major red flag for coach Kenny Atkinson.
The Kevin Love homecoming factor
There was a weirdly emotional layer to this game that might have distracted the home crowd. Kevin Love, the last remaining link to the 2016 championship core before his departure, was back in the building with Utah.
📖 Related: Meaning of Grand Slam: Why We Use It for Tennis, Baseball, and Breakfast
The tribute video was great. The standing ovation was even better. But once the ball was tipped, that "nostalgia" sort of sucked the air out of the building. Fans were so busy cheering for an old favorite that the energy felt more like an exhibition game than a mid-season battle for playoff seeding. It's great to see Love get his flowers, but the Cavs definitely lacked their usual "home-court advantage" intensity.
Looking ahead to Philadelphia
If you’re checking the score because you’re worried about the standings, there’s no time to sulk. The Cavs are currently sitting at 22-19, good for 7th in the Eastern Conference. It's a tight race.
Tonight, Wednesday, January 14, 2026, they head to Philly to face the 76ers. This is the first of a two-game mini-series in Pennsylvania. The oddsmakers have the Sixers as 1.5-point favorites, which basically means it's a toss-up.
👉 See also: NFL Week 5 2025 Point Spreads: What Most People Get Wrong
What to watch for in the next game:
- Jarrett Allen's Rim Protection: After letting the Jazz shoot high percentages in the paint, Allen needs to be the anchor again.
- Darius Garland's Aggression: With Mitchell seeing constant double-teams, Garland has to look for his shot earlier in the clock.
- Bench Depth: With Dean Wade still out (knee), guys like Sam Merrill and Jaylon Tyson have to provide more than just cardio; they need to hit shots.
Basically, the Cleveland Cavaliers are in a bit of a "identity crisis" stretch. One night they look like they could challenge the Celtics, and the next they're losing double-digit leads to lottery teams.
Your Actionable Next Steps:
Keep an eye on the injury report about two hours before tip-off for the Philly game. If Darius Garland (hand) or Jaylon Tyson (illness) are downgraded, the scoring burden on Mitchell becomes almost too much to handle. If you're looking for the live score tonight, the game tips at 7:00 PM ET on FanDuel Sports Network Ohio.
Check the official NBA app or the Cavs' social media feeds right around 9:30 PM ET for the final result. Hopefully, it’s more "Timberwolves win" and less "Jazz loss."