If you’re checking your phone at 6:00 PM on a Tuesday wondering when does cleveland play, you’re probably just like the rest of us in Northeast Ohio—constantly juggling three different sports seasons that always seem to overlap. It's January 2026. The lake effect snow is real, the Browns just wrapped up a rough 5-12 season, and the Cavs are currently the only thing keeping the sports bars in Lakewood jumping.
Honestly, keeping track of the schedules is a full-time job. Between the NBA mid-season grind, the NFL’s messy offseason, and the fact that pitchers and catchers are actually reporting to Arizona in just a few weeks, there is a lot to unpack. Here is exactly when you can catch Cleveland’s teams in action right now.
Catching the Cavs at Rocket Arena
The Cleveland Cavaliers are the main event right now. They’re sitting at 23-19, which puts them 7th in the Eastern Conference. Kenny Atkinson has them playing fast, and they just came off a massive 133-107 blowout win against the 76ers in Philly.
If you want to watch them, you've got a busy stretch coming up. They stay in Philadelphia for a back-to-back set before heading home. Here is the immediate look at the calendar:
- Friday, January 16: At Philadelphia 76ers (7:00 PM). This is the rematch. Expect the Sixers to be angry after that 26-point drubbing.
- Monday, January 19: vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (2:30 PM). This is a big one. It’s the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration at Rocket Arena. Afternoon basketball in Cleveland is always a different vibe.
- Wednesday, January 21: At Charlotte Hornets (7:00 PM). A quick road trip down south.
- Friday, January 23: vs. Sacramento Kings (7:30 PM). Back home for Asian American Pacific Islander Celebration night.
- Saturday, January 24: At Orlando Magic (7:00 PM).
- Monday, January 26: vs. Orlando Magic (7:00 PM). This home-and-home series with Orlando is going to be huge for playoff seeding.
The Cavs are currently 4th in the league in scoring, averaging over 120 points per game. If you're heading to the arena, keep an eye on the "Sword Magazine" giveaway on the 26th. It's also City Edition Night, so the floor and the jerseys will look pretty slick.
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The Browns: No More Football Until August
If you're asking when does cleveland play because you're looking for the Browns, I have some bad news. Their season ended on January 4th with a win over the Bengals. While they finished on a two-game winning streak, that 5-12 record wasn't enough to save Kevin Stefanski’s job.
He was fired on January 5th. Right now, the "play" isn't happening on the field—it’s happening in the front office.
We won't see them in a real game until the preseason starts in August 2026. However, we do know who they are playing next fall. Because they finished last in the AFC North, they get a "last-place schedule." They’ll be hosting the Texans, Colts, and Falcons, and traveling to places like Jacksonville and New Orleans.
The biggest thing to watch isn't a kickoff time; it's the NFL Draft and the search for a new head coach. With Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel on the roster, the QB room is a bit of a question mark. Andrew Berry is still the GM, but the identity of this team is about to change completely.
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The College Alternative: Cleveland State
Don't sleep on the Vikings. If you need a basketball fix and don't want to pay NBA prices, Cleveland State is back at the Wolstein Center. They play Green Bay tonight (January 15) at 7:00 PM. They’ve had a rough start to 2026, but Jaidon Lipscomb is coming off a 30-point game where he hit nine threes.
Guardians Spring Training Is Closer Than You Think
It's freezing outside, but baseball is basically around the corner. The Guardians just announced their reporting dates for Goodyear, Arizona. Pitchers and catchers report on February 12.
The actual games—the ones that count as "play"—start on February 21, 2026.
The Guardians start with a split-squad day. Half the team plays the Cincinnati Reds at Goodyear Ballpark at 3:05 PM ET (1:05 PM local), and the other half travels to play the Brewers in Phoenix.
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This spring is going to be massive for the young guys. We’re finally going to see if Chase DeLauter is ready to be the everyday outfielder we’ve been hearing about for years. Plus, keep an eye on Khalil Watson. He was just added to the 40-man roster and people are hyped about his speed.
Quick Reference: When Does Cleveland Play Next?
| Team | Date | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cavaliers | Jan 16 | Philadelphia 76ers | Away (Philly) |
| Cleveland State | Jan 15 | Green Bay | Home (Wolstein) |
| Cavaliers | Jan 19 | OKC Thunder | Home (Rocket Arena) |
| Guardians | Feb 21 | Cincinnati Reds | Goodyear, AZ |
| Browns | Aug 2026 | TBD | TBD |
Why the Schedule Matters Right Now
Cleveland sports are in a weird transition phase. The Cavs are the only ones currently in the hunt for a deep postseason run. If you're planning to watch, remember that most games are still on Bally Sports (or whatever it's called this week), though the team has been pushing more content to their own streaming apps.
For the Browns, "play" is all about the mock drafts and the coaching carousel. It’s a bit of a bummer, but that’s the reality of a 5-12 season.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the Cavs App: If you're going to the game on Monday (MLK Day), the tickets are moving fast. Prices are starting around $40.
- Mark February 12: That's the day the first "baseball is back" photos start hitting Twitter from Arizona.
- Sync Your Calendar: Most team websites have a "sync to calendar" button. Do it now so you don't have to Google when does cleveland play every Friday night.