The NBA season is a check in overcoming adversity. Simply when issues are going effectively, the momentum of a staff’s success could be halted similar to that. The San Antonio Spurs’ Saturday loss to the Utah Jazz was a kind of moments. Nothing appeared to go proper for San Antonio because the loss snapped an 8-game successful streak and served as a little bit of a actuality test for the younger staff that was driving a excessive.
The Spurs may have an opportunity to bounce again towards the Cleveland Cavaliers, who’ve handled some robust realities themselves this season. As soon as thought-about the favorites within the Japanese Convention, the Cavaliers have struggled mightily to finish the calendar yr. The Cavs have misplaced 5 of their final seven video games, together with losses to the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets of their final two video games. There may be some symmetry on this matchup, as each of those groups wish to get again on observe after experiencing some current turbulence, nevertheless slight it could be.
The Spurs misplaced to the Cavaliers earlier this season, 117-130. That sport didn’t function a number of key contributors, like Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Citadel, Luke Kornet, Darius Garland, and Jarrett Allen. San Antonio misplaced the third quarter of that matchup 44-19, regardless of successful each different body. They’ll search for a constant effort throughout the board to bounce again with a win in entrance of the house crowd.
December 29, 2025 | 7 PM CT
Watch: Peacock / NBC | Pay attention: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Accidents: Stanley Umude – Out (G League), David Jones-Garcia – Questionable (G League), Harrison Ingram – Out (G League), De’Aaron Fox – Questionable (thigh)
Cavaliers Accidents: Chris Livingston – Out (G League), Larry Nance Jr. – Out (calf), Max Strus – Out (foot), Luke Travers – Out (G League)
A shoddy protection buried the Spurs within the third quarter of their final defensive matchup towards the Cavaliers. Cleveland received to the basket at any time when they needed and located a ton of wide-open shooters for threes. Now, having Wembanyama ought to assist them lots on this regard, however, because the Spurs came upon towards the Jazz, it gained’t cowl up a poor defensive effort. Sharp rotations, stout level of assault protection, communication on switches, and a spotlight to element on assist protection are important to slowing down the Cavs. Cleveland boasts a top-10 offense, that includes a number of gamers who can create their very own offense, together with Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Garland. The Spurs will must be locked in defensively for all 48 minutes to get the win.
Julian Champagnie bounces again
December has not been form to Champagnie. He’s gone chilly together with the climate. He’s averaging 8.1 factors and 5.8 rebounds whereas taking pictures 39.8% from the sector and 31.9% from three this month. It’s a disgrace his shot hasn’t been falling, as a result of he’s been robust on the defensive finish and has turn out to be one of many staff’s greatest rebounders. Shooters undergo droughts the entire time, and it’s not the primary time Champagnie has gone on one with the Spurs. The Cavs are permitting groups to shoot 38% from deep this season, one of many highest percentages within the league, so there isn’t any higher time for Champagnie to bounce again than on Monday night time.
Successful the possession battle
The Cavaliers are an attention-grabbing staff that’s nice at forcing turnovers (top-10 in steals) and have their fair proportion of giveaways themselves (13.9 turnovers per sport). When the Spurs protection is at its greatest, it’s creating turnovers and hitting residence runs on the opposite finish with runouts and transition buckets. San Antonio has typically been good at valuing possessions this season, however has skilled video games the place turnovers could be a actual situation, particularly with its younger stars, Wembanyama and Citadel. Taking good care of the basketball and successful the possession battle can be vital towards the Cavs. ienced video games the place turnovers could be a actual situation, particularly with its younger stars, Wembanyama and Citadel. Taking good care of the basketball and successful the possession battle is
