The Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on Saturday, December 27, with tip-off set for 8:00 p.m. ET. Cleveland holds a 17-15 record and is on a one-game losing streak, while Houston sits at 18-10 and is coming off a win against the Lakers.
The Cavaliers fell 124-126 to the Knicks on Christmas Day but had beaten New Orleans 141-118 on December 23. The Rockets defeated Los Angeles 119-96 on Christmas Day after losing 108-128 to the Clippers on December 23. Houston claimed the only head-to-head matchup this season, 114-104 on November 19 in Cleveland.
Injuries will impact rotations for both teams. Cleveland is without Chris Livingston, Larry Nance Jr., Max Strus, and Luke Travers. Houston lists Fred VanVleet out, while Alperen Sengun is questionable with left calf tightness.
Cleveland relies heavily on Donovan Mitchell, who is averaging 30.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. Evan Mobley adds 18.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 4.1 assists, and Darius Garland contributes 17.3 points and 7.1 assists despite limited games. Jaylon Tyson, De’Andre Hunter, and Jarrett Allen provide secondary scoring and interior presence.
Houston’s offense is led by Kevin Durant, averaging 25.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. Sengun adds 22.7 points and 9.4 rebounds, while Amen Thompson contributes 17.9 points and 5.3 assists. Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed Sheppard offer scoring balance, with Tari Eason providing floor spacing and three-point efficiency.
