2026-10-22 · 6:00 PM CT · Regular season
Cleveland Cavaliers52-30
Philadelphia 76ers45-37ESPN standings data retrieved October 6, 2026. NBA comparisons use the completed 2025–26 regular season. Each upcoming fixture labels preseason or regular-season status.
Cleveland Cavaliers2025–26 regular season
| Measure | Season average | League rank |
|---|---|---|
| STANDARD STATS | ||
| Points / game | 119.5 | 4 / 30 |
| Rebounds / game | 44.4 | 11 / 30 |
| Assists / game | 28.3 | 8 / 30 |
| Turnovers / game | 13.3 | 9 / 30 |
| Steals / game | 8.5 | 16 / 30 |
| Blocks / game | 5.0 | 13 / 30 |
| FG% | 48.2% | 8 / 30 |
| 3PT% | 36.0% | 13 / 30 |
| FT% | 77.6% | 19 / 30 |
| THE LAB MEASURES | ||
| eFG% | 56.1% | 5 / 30 |
| Turnover rate | 11.7% | 11 / 30 |
| Offensive rebound rate | — | — |
| Free-throw pressure | 0.265 | 15 / 30 |
Philadelphia 76ers2025–26 regular season
| Measure | Season average | League rank |
|---|---|---|
| STANDARD STATS | ||
| Points / game | 115.9 | 14 / 30 |
| Rebounds / game | 43.6 | 17 / 30 |
| Assists / game | 24.6 | 29 / 30 |
| Turnovers / game | 13.0 | 7 / 30 |
| Steals / game | 9.1 | 6 / 30 |
| Blocks / game | 5.7 | 4 / 30 |
| FG% | 46.2% | 23 / 30 |
| 3PT% | 34.9% | 23 / 30 |
| FT% | 80.9% | 4 / 30 |
| THE LAB MEASURES | ||
| eFG% | 53.0% | 26 / 30 |
| Turnover rate | 11.4% | 6 / 30 |
| Offensive rebound rate | — | — |
| Free-throw pressure | 0.275 | 11 / 30 |
ESPN team totals and game box scores checked October 6. NBA season averages and ranks use 2025–26; preseason game results are shown separately. Ranks are within the league, with ties sharing a rank; a lower turnover rate is better. Season offensive rebound rate needs opponent defensive-rebound totals, which this feed does not supply. A dash means unavailable. This game’s offensive rebound rate uses the opponent’s actual rebounds.
eFG% gives a made three its extra value. Turnover rate estimates the share of plays lost before a shot. Offensive rebound rate is the share of available offensive rebounds collected. Free-throw pressure is FTA/FGA. The calculations are (FGM + 0.5 × 3PM)/FGA; TOV/(FGA + 0.44 × FTA + TOV); OREB/(OREB + opponent DREB); and FTA/FGA.
Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers enter with scoring averages of 119.5 and 115.9. Start with the kinds of shots they get, not just how many points they score. A clean shot at the rim or an open three can matter more than another difficult jumper.
The shooting comparison is 56.1% eFG for Cleveland Cavaliers and 53.0% for Philadelphia 76ers. That measure counts the extra value of a made three. If the defense takes away the first good look, watch whether the offense can create another without rushing.
Ball security is the next pressure point. Cleveland Cavaliers turn it over on an estimated 11.7% of plays; Philadelphia 76ers are at 11.4%. Fewer wasted trips mean more chances to score and fewer easy chances going the other way.
After the shot, watch the rebound. Then watch which team earns free throws. Extra shots and trips to the line can keep an offense moving when the shooting cools. The season columns give the baseline; the game columns in our final breakdown will show which advantages actually held up.
Spreads and win probabilities are reserved for confirmed games within the next seven days. This game stays on the schedule; its forecast opens inside that window.
Last season 52-30 | 4th in the East | Lost in Eastern Conference Finals
2025-26 efficiency 118.3 offense | 114.1 defense | +4.1 net per 100 possessions
Cleveland finished fourth at 52-30, won two seven-game series and was swept by New York in the conference finals. A 118.3 offensive rating supported regular-season success, but the postseason run contained repeated slow starts. The Cavaliers trailed by at least ten points in 12 of their 18 playoff games, an uncomfortable foundation for a team hoping to take one more step.
Koby Altman retained Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen still anchoring the frontcourt. Peyton Watson arrives to supply the athletic wing defense and spot-up shooting the roster has needed. Harden gets a full camp after joining at the previous deadline. That continuity should make the regular-season offense easier to organize.
The front office addressed the wing opening while leaving a thin margin behind the starters. Watson's larger role is a reasonable bet, but his best shooting stretch should not be treated as guaranteed production. Harden's age increases the importance of competent reserve creation. Mobley also needs enough offensive growth to help when the guards face pressure. Cleveland has improved the intended starting five without establishing equal certainty throughout the rotation.
Projected finish is third in the East. Mitchell, Harden and the returning frontcourt can win consistently, and Watson addresses a specific need. We keep the forecast just behind the teams with stronger recent efficiency or more settled chemistry. A healthier first-half offense would be better evidence of progress than another series of impressive recoveries from deficits.
Last season 45-37 | 7th in the East | Lost in conference semifinals
2025-26 efficiency 114.3 offense | 114.4 defense | -0.1 net per 100 possessions
Philadelphia finished seventh at 45-37, beat Boston and lost to New York in the second round. The regular-season net rating was minus-0.1, so the previous team was not a clear contender by sustained efficiency. This summer's roster changes are too significant to carry that baseline forward without a substantial adjustment.
Daryl Morey acquired Jaylen Brown, signed LeBron James and added supporting pieces including Anfernee Simons and Dean Wade. They join Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. The new team has far more ways to create a shot, and James can help possessions that previously required Maxey or Embiid to solve everything. Simons supplies valuable shooting when the primary scorers attract help.
The remaining problems are availability, role distribution and defense. Embiid played only 96 regular-season games across the last three years, and James turns 42 during the coming season. Brown and Embiid both carried very high playoff usage, so Nick Nurse must establish which possessions belong to whom. Morey assembled star talent, but did not make the backup center situation equally reassuring. Missing stars could turn those apparently small depth questions into nightly requirements.
Projected finish is fourth in the East. We credit the clear talent upgrade while expecting rest, absences and integration to affect the record. Philadelphia's best lineup has a championship-level ceiling. Its place is deliberately more cautious because a regular season measures the lineups available on ordinary nights, not only the one fans hope to see in May.
A matching published game video is not available in the verified archive yet.
