Cavaliers Vs Pelicans: How to Watch, Odds, and Injury Report as Cleveland Tries to Stay Unbeaten on the Trip
cavaliers vs pelicans is the Saturday night finish to Cleveland’s three-game road trip, with the Cavaliers trying to keep the trip unbeaten at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The matchup comes as New Orleans sits well outside the Play-In race but enters on a three-game win streak, while Cleveland aims to clean up uneven stretches from earlier wins on this swing. As of 8: 00 PM ET Saturday, the biggest pregame focus is availability, with Cleveland adding another key name to a lengthy injury report.
How to watch cavaliers vs pelicans (ET) and where it’s being played
The game is set in New Orleans at the Smoothie King Center.
- Matchup: Cleveland Cavaliers (43-27) at New Orleans Pelicans (25-46)
- Venue: Smoothie King Center — New Orleans, LA
- TV/Streaming: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, FanDuel Sports App, NBA League Pass
Cleveland arrives looking to finish the road trip with three straight wins, but the team has not always played up to its skill level during wins earlier on the trip. New Orleans, despite its record and standing, has shown improved recent form, including three straight wins.
Injury report and expected lineups
Cleveland’s injury report is the headline storyline going into the night. The Cavaliers list multiple players as out, with two rotation names marked questionable.
Cavaliers injury report: Jaylon Tyson — QUESTIONABLE (toe); Donovan Mitchell — QUESTIONABLE (eye contusion); Jarrett Allen — OUT (knee); Craig Porter Jr. — OUT (groin); Tyrese Proctor — OUT (quad); Olivier Sarr — OUT (G League); Tristan Enaruna — OUT (G League).
Pelicans injury report: Bryce McGowens — OUT (toe); Trey Alexander — OUT (G League); Hunter Dickinson — OUT (G League); JOsh Oduro — OUT (G League).
Cavaliers expected starting lineup: James Harden, Sam Merrill, Keon Ellis, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley.
Pelicans expected starting lineup: Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones, Saddiq Bey, Zion Williamson, Yves Missi.
What we know heading into the game: records, form, and the last meeting
New Orleans is 25-46 and “well clear” of the race for the final Play-In spot. The Pelicans have won three in a row, including a victory in their most recent game over Darius Garland and the Los Angeles Clippers. Cleveland, at 43-27, is trying to complete a clean sweep of this road trip, but the team’s performance has been uneven at times even in wins.
The last time these teams met, Cleveland handled New Orleans decisively: the Cavaliers defeated the Pelicans 141-118 two days before Christmas. Saturday’s rematch comes with a very different short-term backdrop, with New Orleans playing better lately and Cleveland managing a stretched injury situation.
From a tactical standpoint, Cleveland is again leaning on Evan Mobley in Jarrett Allen’s absence on this trip, while James Harden is coming off a 36-point night in a 115-110 win over Chicago—another game where Cleveland nearly gave away a large second-half lead.
What’s next after cavaliers vs pelicans
All eyes will stay on the final availability check for Donovan Mitchell and Jaylon Tyson, and on whether Cleveland can deliver a sharper, more complete performance to close out the trip. On the other side, New Orleans will try to extend its win streak and keep building on improved recent form. By the end of the night, cavaliers vs pelicans will either mark a perfect road swing for Cleveland or a signature home result for a Pelicans team still fighting to show progress despite its place in the standings.
