The San Antonio Spurs continue their grueling December road swing, aiming to extend their strong play without star center Victor Wembanyama when they face the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Despite missing key pieces on both sides, this non-conference clash features contrasting styles: San Antonio’s balanced, high-efficiency offense (11th in NBA at 119.0 PPG) against Cleveland’s three-point barrage (15.6 makes/game, 3rd) and home-court grit. The Spurs have thrived in Wembanyama’s absence (7-2 in his last nine missed games), leaning on De’Aaron Fox’s creation and Devin Vassell’s scoring. For the Cavs, Donovan Mitchell’s MVP-level output (30.7 PPG) has masked frontcourt woes, but a recent skid (L4 of 5) raises questions about their ceiling. This is the first of two meetings this season, with a rematch in San Antonio on March 27, 2026.
Venue and Game Details
Location: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, Ohio (home of the Cleveland Cavaliers; capacity: 19,432). The revamped arena, a staple since 1994, has been a mixed bag for the Cavs this year (8-5 home), but its raucous crowd often fuels comebacks in close games.
Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. CT)
Broadcast: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio (Cavs local), FanDuel SportsNet Southwest (Spurs local), NBA TV (national). Streaming on NBA League Pass, Fubo, and YouTube TV.
Both teams are rested after Wednesday action (Spurs W vs. ORL; Cavs L vs. POR), but Cleveland opens a back-to-back, potentially taxing their thin rotation.
Team Records
| Team | Overall Record | Home/Away Split | Conference Standing | Recent Streak |
| San Antonio Spurs | 15-6 (.714) | 9-2 home / 6-4 away | 4th in Western Conference (5.5 GB behind OKC) | W2 (7-3 in last 10) |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 13-10 (.565) | 8-5 home / 5-5 away | 7th in Eastern Conference (4.5 GB behind DET) | L1 (5-5 in last 10) |
San Antonio ranks 11th in scoring (119.0 PPG) and 8th in defense (113.8 allowed), with a +5.2 net rating (top-10). Cleveland is 9th offensively (119.1 PPG) but 14th defensively (116.0 allowed), propped by elite three-point volume (44.8 attempts/game, 1st).
Recent Team Forms
The Spurs are rolling without Wembanyama, winners of four of five behind Fox’s explosion and depth scoring (seven players in double figures). They survived a thriller in Orlando on Dec. 3 (114-112), with Fox’s 31 points and Luke Kornet’s game-saving block on Franz Wagner. Prior: a 126-119 home rout of Memphis on Dec. 2 (Harrison Barnes 31 PTS) after a 125-112 road loss to Minnesota on Nov. 30 (Fox 25 PTS).
Over the last 5 games (4-1): W 114-112 at ORL, W 126-119 vs. MEM, L 112-125 at MIN, W 127-125 at SAC (Dec. 1), W 130-116 vs. NOP (Nov. 28). Average: 117.8 PPG scored, 115.4 allowed (+2.4 margin). Road form shines (6-4, +4.2 margin away), with 48.7% FG shooting (top-5).
Cleveland’s inconsistencies persist amid injuries, dropping four of five despite Mitchell’s heroics. They fell 122-110 to Portland on Dec. 3 (Mitchell 33 PTS, Mobley 23/10), unable to contain the Blazers’ bench. Before: a 135-119 blowout of Indiana on Dec. 1 (Mitchell 43 PTS) snapped a three-game skid, including L 117-115 at Cleveland to… wait, data shows mixed: W 135-119 vs. IND, L 110-122 vs. POR, L 117-115 vs. ATL?
Over last 5 (2-3): L 110-122 vs. POR, W 135-119 vs. IND, L 123-130 vs. BKN (Nov. 28), L 99-110 at CHI (Nov. 24), W 120-105 vs. TOR (Nov. 23). Average: 117.4 PPG scored, 117.2 allowed (+0.2 margin). Home defense lags (118.5 allowed at Rocket), with turnovers (14.2/game) plaguing them.
Injury Report
Injuries ravage both benches, thinning frontcourts and backcourts. Pre-tip updates expected; fatigue could compound issues.
| Team | Player | Status | Injury/Details | Impact |
| Spurs | Victor Wembanyama (C) | Out | Left calf strain (since Nov. 16; re-eval Dec. 17) | Franchise cornerstone (26.2 PPG, 10.5 RPG pre-injury); Spurs 7-2 without him, but rim protection dips (4.2 BPG team low). |
| Spurs | Stephon Castle (PG) | Out | Left hip flexor strain (since Nov. 16; day-to-day, no travel for next) | Rookie sensation (17.5 PPG); Fox absorbs creation, but spacing suffers (Spurs 3PT% -3.2% without him). |
| Spurs | Jordan McLaughlin (PG) | Out | Left hamstring strain (since Nov. 7; re-eval Dec. 8) | Depth guard (5.2 PPG); minimal, but tests bench playmaking. |
| Spurs | Luke Kornet (C) | Questionable | Right ankle sprain (limited practice) | Backup big (6.8 PPG); if out, Bismack Biyombo logs 25+ MPG vs. Mobley. |
| Cavaliers | Jarrett Allen (C) | Out | Right finger strain (since Nov. 29; at least 1 week) | Rim anchor (13.9 PPG, 10.0 RPG); Mobley shifts to C, exposing mismatches (Cavs allow +5.2 paint PTS without him). |
| Cavaliers | Darius Garland (PG) | Out | Injury management/toe (limited games; out for load management) | Co-star (13.6 PPG, 6.5 APG in 8 GP); Mitchell handles more ball, but assists drop 4.2/game. |
| Cavaliers | Larry Nance Jr. (PF) | Out | Right calf strain (Grade 1; 3-4 weeks) | Versatile forward (8.5 PPG); frontcourt depth hit, forcing Dean Wade into 30+ MPG. |
| Cavaliers | Max Strus (SG) | Out | Right foot surgery recovery (re-eval Dec. 12) | Wing shooter (9.2 PPG); three-point volume down 2.1 makes/game. |
| Cavaliers | Sam Merrill (SG) | Out | Right hand sprain (8 straight missed; week-to-week) | Sharpshooter (7.8 PPG off bench); further thins perimeter. |
| Cavaliers | Tyrese Proctor (PG) | Out | Personal reasons (no timeline) | Rookie depth; negligible rotation impact. |
Key Player Matchups
With stars sidelined, this boils down to guard creation and frontcourt battles. Spurs’ balance tests Cavs’ depleted D, while Cleveland’s threes exploit San Antonio’s paint focus.
De’Aaron Fox (SAS) vs. Donovan Mitchell (CLE): Fox’s speed (25.0 PPG, 7.1 APG) meets Mitchell’s scoring (30.7 PPG, 4.0 3PM). Mitchell edges in volume, but Fox’s transition (1.6 SPG) could force turnovers. Edge: Mitchell at home.
Devin Vassell (SAS) vs. De’Andre Hunter (CLE): Vassell’s efficiency (15.7 PPG, 42.7% 3PT in Dec) vs. Hunter’s D (16.7 PPG, 1.1 SPG). Vassell torched similar wings last week. Edge: Vassell.
Evan Mobley (CLE) vs. Harrison Barnes (SAS): Mobley’s two-way dominance (19.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 1.7 BPG) vs. Barnes’ scoring (18.5 PPG). Without Allen, Mobley logs 35+ MPG; Barnes exploits mismatches. Edge: Mobley.
Keldon Johnson (SAS) vs. Jaylon Tyson (CLE): Johnson’s rebounding (6.5 RPG) vs. Tyson’s emergence (12.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG). Johnson averaged 22/8 last three. Edge: Johnson.
Bench: Dylan Harper (SAS) vs. Craig Porter Jr. (CLE): Harper’s all-around (13.6 PPG, 3.5 APG) vs. Porter’s hustle (8.2 PPG). Rookie battle for minutes. Edge: Harper.
Eye Cleveland’s 15.6 3PM vs. Spurs’ 13.9 allowed (19th); San Antonio’s steals (9.5/game, top-5) could spark runs.
Series History
The Spurs-Cavs rivalry peaked in the 2007 Finals (Spurs sweep), but Cleveland has flipped the script recently. 107 regular-season games since 1976.
All-Time Regular Season: Spurs lead 66-41 (61.7%). Last 10 RS: Cavs 5-5.
All-Time Playoffs: Spurs lead 4-0 (2007 Finals sweep).
Overall: Spurs 70-41 (63.1%).
Recent: Cavs won last five straight, including 117-101 (Mar. 27, 2025 at SAS), 124-116 (Dec. 4, 2024 at CLE). Averages: 118.4-110.2 scores (Cavs +8.2 margin). Overs hit 60% in last 5.
Home teams win 55% ATS; unders 55% when Cavs shoot 45%+ FG.
Betting Trends
Spread: Spurs 10-11 ATS overall (6-4 road). Cavs 8-15 ATS; 5-10 as 5+ favorites. Trend: Underdogs cover 5/6 last in series.
Moneyline: Cavs 12-8 as favorites; SA 6-2 as dogs.
Total: Cavs overs (47.6%); Spurs 6/10 road overs. Last 5 H2H: 60% over.
Trend: Overs 7/10 Spurs road; unders 5/7 Cavs home.
Predicted Score: Cleveland Cavaliers 118, San Antonio Spurs 114
Game Odds
San Antonio Spurs 238.5
Cleveland Cavaliers – 5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, December 4, 2025
