Cavaliers set Halloween opener as NBA Cup group schedule is finalized
cavaliers-set-halloween-opener-nba-cup-group-schedule
The Cleveland Cavaliers will begin NBA Cup group play on October 31, hosting the Toronto Raptors at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
After the Halloween matchup, Cleveland will face the Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks to complete the four-game slate, splitting the contests evenly between home and road venues. One defeat can be enough to end a club’s hopes of advancing, and the Cavaliers have never reached the knockout round.
Last year, the team roared to a 17-3 overall record but dropped both Cup games to the Boston Celtics and Hawks, eliminating Cleveland before December. Boston is assigned to a different group this season and arrives with a reshaped roster, leaving Atlanta as the likely primary hurdle. Fittingly, the Hawks close out the Cavaliers’ group schedule, a meeting that could determine which team moves on.
While capturing the in-season trophy has not translated to postseason success—Milwaukee won the Cup in 2024 and the Los Angeles Lakers claimed it in 2023 before both were ousted in the first playoff round—any early hardware remains a welcome addition for Cleveland.
The NBA is expected to release the full regular-season schedule on Thursday.
Source: Hoops Wire
