Cleveland Cavaliers vs Atlanta Hawks
PREVIEW: The Atlanta Hawks travel to the Rocket Arena to battle the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night. The Hawks have split their first six games overall and will be aiming for a third straight victory after making light work of the struggling Pacers in a 128-108 road win on Friday. Atlanta ranks first in high spacing on offense and third in post-up shot frequency, giving them multiple ways to attack a Cleveland defense ranked 28th against three-point shooting. The Hawks accomplished their recent success playing without Trae Young, who sat out with a knee injury, demonstrating the depth of their roster in critical moments.
Meanwhile, the Cavaliers have cooled off from their three-game win streak as they look to avoid a third straight defeat after getting routed by the Raptors in a 112-101 home loss on Friday. Cleveland leads the league in three-point shot frequency at 51.0% and ranks second in forcing turnovers, creating a defensive identity built on transition opportunities and perimeter pressure. The Cavaliers have ruled out Darius Garland while Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Sam Merrill are all listed as questionable, meaning the availability of these key contributors could significantly shift the competitive balance. Cleveland has been one of the most disciplined teams defensively, holding opponents to around 109 points per game at home, setting up an intriguing matchup between an efficient Hawks offense and a stingy Cavaliers defense.