Cavaliers vs 76ers Preview: Injuries, Odds, and How to Watch Friday Night

Two of the NBA’s most explosive scorers take center stage Friday night as the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Philadelphia 76ers in the second game of a quick two-game set. Donovan Mitchell and Tyrese Maxey headline a matchup that carries both revenge and playoff-position implications.

How to Watch Cavaliers vs. 76ers

• Date: Friday, January 16, 2026
• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Venue: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia
• TV: ESPN, NBC Sports Philadelphia, FanDuel Sports Network Ohio
• Streaming: Fubo
• Tickets: StubHub

National viewers can catch the game on ESPN, while regional broadcasts cover fans in both markets. Streaming options include Fubo, which carries ESPN and local sports networks in supported areas.

Game Preview

Cleveland dominated the opening matchup of this series earlier in the week, rolling to a convincing 133–107 win behind Donovan Mitchell’s 35 points and a season-best ball-movement display. The Cavaliers recorded 41 assists on 50 made field goals, showcasing the offensive rhythm they’ve searched for all season.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, never recovered from a sluggish first quarter in that loss. Tyrese Maxey endured one of his toughest shooting nights of the year, while Joel Embiid admitted the Sixers were never fully locked in defensively or on the glass.

Friday’s rematch offers the 76ers a quick chance at redemption as they continue a lengthy home stand. Despite their strong overall record, Philadelphia has been inconsistent at home, hovering around .500 in South Philly.

Injury Report

Philadelphia 76ers

• Dominick Barlow — Questionable (back)
• Joel Embiid — Probable (knee)
• Paul George — Probable (knee)

Cleveland Cavaliers

• Max Strus — Out (foot)
• Dean Wade — Out (knee)
• Darius Garland — Out (foot)
• Sam Merrill — Out (hand)

Garland’s absence is a significant blow for Cleveland, placing even more creation and scoring responsibility on Mitchell’s shoulders against a motivated Sixers defense.

Odds & Betting Snapshot

• Spread: Philadelphia -2.5
• Moneyline: 76ers -145 | Cavaliers +120
• Total: 233.5 points

Odds courtesy of BetMGM.

What to Watch

Cleveland has won five of the last six meetings between these teams and appears to have found a rhythm offensively. Philadelphia’s response — particularly Maxey’s aggressiveness and Embiid’s efficiency — will likely decide whether this turns into a statement win or another frustrating home setback.

With postseason positioning already in focus, Friday night’s showdown feels bigger than a typical January game.