The Cleveland Cavaliers are set to face off against the Utah Jazz this Sunday afternoon, March 23, at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. The Cavaliers, boasting an impressive record of 56-14, are currently at the top of the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Jazz, with a record of 16-55, sit at the bottom of the Western Conference. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, as the Cavaliers look to snap a disappointing four-game losing streak.
In their previous game, the Cavaliers were bested by the Phoenix Suns, losing 123-112, a game where star guard Donovan Mitchell had a particularly rough outing, scoring just seven points and shooting 2-of-18 from the field. "Put this on me," Mitchell stated after the loss. "When your leader ain’t doing [expletive], this is what happens… I have to be better for the group." Despite his struggles, Mitchell has averaged 23.8 points per game this season.
The Cavaliers come into this matchup as 16-point favorites, with oddsmakers setting the over/under at 240.5 total points for the game. The moneyline is heavily leaning towards the Cavaliers at -1350, while the Jazz are at +800. Betters looking to make predictions might find initial interest in Collin Sexton's performance, as he is projected to score 20.7 points against his former team. His point total is set at 17.5, making the over a popular bet. The former Alabama standout scored 30 points in a previous game against the Boston Celtics, demonstrating his capability on the court despite the team's overall struggles.
The Jazz are striving to find footing after a tumultuous season compounded by ongoing rebuilding efforts. They recently ended a 10-game losing streak with a victory against the Washington Wizards but could not maintain the momentum in their last game against the Celtics, where they fell 121-99. Keyonte George led Utah's offense in that game with 19 points, while Sexton’s earlier performance continues to be a beacon of hope in what has been a forgettable season.
Cleveland is going into this game without key players Lauri Markkanen and John Collins, who will not be on the court due to illness. Markkanen, who averages 19 points per game, has been especially missed, as his absence can shift the dynamics of the game in favor of the Cavaliers. Utah will look to leverage this opportunity while aiming to overturn their fortunes in front of a home crowd.
The Cavaliers have struggled on this latest road trip, losing four consecutive games despite starting strong earlier in the month. They will need to come out firing on all cylinders if they hope to return to winning ways against a Jazz team that is desperate for success. "I think the team hung in and competed for a majority of the game," Jazz head coach Will Hardy said, reflecting on their effort against the Celtics.
This match not only offers the Cavaliers a chance to regain confidence but also gives the Jazz an opportunity to build on gradual improvements and seek redemption for their season. With such differences in standings, analysts and pundits are eager to see how both teams can strategize and tackle the obstacles ahead of them as they move into the closing weeks of the season and prepare for the playoffs.
For fans looking to tune into the game, the broadcast will be available on NBA League Pass. Additionally, those in Cleveland can catch it on the FanDuel Sports Network Ohio or watch through local streaming options such as Fubo and DirecTV Stream.
Overall, Sunday’s game promises to be an intriguing matchup between the best of the East and the struggling team from the West. Will the Cavaliers disrupt their losing streak, or can the Jazz pull off a surprising upset?
