So you're looking to catch the Wine and Gold in action. Honestly, keeping track of an 82-game NBA season is a full-time job in itself, especially with how the league flexes games around these days. If you're asking when does the cleveland cavaliers play basketball, you've probably noticed the schedule is currently hitting that mid-winter grind.
We are officially in the thick of the 2025-26 season. As of mid-January 2026, the Cavs are sitting in a pretty interesting spot in the Eastern Conference standings. Donovan Mitchell is still playing like a man possessed, and the "Core Four" era is very much the reality in Cleveland. But if you want to see them live or just know what channel to flip to tonight, the details matter.
The Immediate Look: January and February 2026
The schedule right now is kind of a gauntlet. If you were planning on a quiet night in, you might want to check the calendar because the Cavs are basically living out of suitcases for the next few weeks.
Right now, the team is dealing with a heavy road stretch. On Wednesday, January 14, they’re in Philly to take on the 76ers. That’s a 7:00 PM ET tip-off on ESPN. They actually stay in Philadelphia for a rare "baseball-style" set, playing the Sixers again on Friday, January 16.
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The highlight of the month, though? That has to be the Martin Luther King Jr. Day game. On Monday, January 19, the Cavs return home to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse—or "Rocket Arena" as the locals are calling the updated branding—to host the Oklahoma City Thunder. It’s a matinee. 2:30 PM ET start. If you’re off work, it’s the best way to spend a Monday.
Here is a quick rundown of the home games coming up through early February:
- January 19: vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (2:30 PM)
- January 23: vs. Sacramento Kings (7:30 PM) – This is the AAPI Celebration night.
- January 26: vs. Orlando Magic (7:00 PM)
- January 28: vs. Los Angeles Lakers (7:00 PM) – LeBron coming back to town is always a circus.
- February 11: vs. Washington Wizards (7:00 PM)
After that Lakers game on the 28th, the Cavs vanish for a bit. They hit a five-game road trip that takes them through Phoenix, Portland, and both L.A. teams. They don't sleep in their own beds again until mid-February.
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Understanding the "When" and "Where"
Most people get confused by the different start times. Usually, a weeknight home game starts at 7:00 PM or 7:30 PM ET. But the NBA has been leaning hard into those matinee games lately.
Sunday games are the wildcards. For example, on March 8, they play the Celtics at 1:00 PM. Then on March 15, they play Dallas at 3:30 PM. Basically, if it's a weekend, don't assume it's a night game. Always check the ticket or the app about four hours before tip-off.
How to Watch (Because it’s confusing now)
Watching the Cavs in 2026 isn't as simple as just turning on "the sports channel." The broadcast rights are split up quite a bit.
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- FanDuel Sports Network Ohio: This is the primary home for about 66 games this season. If you live in the Cleveland market, this is your bread and butter.
- National TV: The Cavs are actually good, so they have 29 national games this year. You’ll see them on ESPN, ABC, and even NBC/Peacock.
- The Over-the-Air Option: This is a cool move. The team is simulcasting a few games on "Rock Entertainment Sports Network" (Channel 22.1 or 43 in Cleveland). There’s a big game against the Mavericks on March 15 that you can catch for free with a simple antenna.
- Streaming: If you’re out of market, NBA League Pass is the go-to, but if you're in Cleveland, you’re usually blacked out on League Pass unless you use the FanDuel app.
The Long View: The Road to the Playoffs
The regular season wraps up on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The final game is at home against the Washington Wizards.
One thing to keep an eye on is the "back-to-back" situations. The Cavs have 14 of them this season. These are the nights when you might see a "DNP - Rest" next to a starter's name, especially for guys like Darius Garland or Evan Mobley if they've been logging heavy minutes. If you're buying tickets specifically to see a star player, try to avoid the second night of a back-to-back.
Pro Tips for Attending a Game
If you're actually going to the arena, remember that Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse went fully cashless a while ago. You need your phone for everything—tickets, snacks, that overpriced (but delicious) jersey.
The doors usually open 90 minutes before tip-off. If you get there early, you can sometimes catch the bench guys doing their shooting drills. It’s honestly impressive to see how many shots these guys can make in a row when there’s no defense.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Download the official Cavs app to get real-time schedule alerts.
- If you're looking for tickets for that January 28 Lakers game, buy them now. Prices jump about 40% the week of the game.
- Check your local listings for Channel 43 to see if you can catch the free over-the-air broadcasts.