Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET
Venue: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
This Eastern Conference clash is the second half of a home-and-home series, with the Cavaliers visiting State Farm Arena in the Hawks’ final regular-season home game. Cleveland is locked into a top-four East seed (currently 4th) and can finish no worse than 4th, while Atlanta (tied for 5th/6th) is fighting to secure a top-six spot and avoid the play-in tournament. The Hawks dropped the Wednesday meeting in Cleveland (116-122) but return home motivated with playoff positioning on the line.
Injury Report
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Jarrett Allen (C) – Out (knee; expected return ~April 12)
Thomas Bryant (C) – Out (calf strain; expected return ~April 12)
Sam Merrill (SG) – Out (hamstring; expected return ~April 12)
Donovan Mitchell (SG) – Questionable (right ankle sprain)
Dean Wade (PF) – Questionable (right ankle sprain)
Jaylon Tyson (SG) – Day-to-day (left great toe bone bruise)
Atlanta Hawks:
Jock Landale (C) – Out (right high ankle sprain; expected return ~April 17)
RayJ Dennis (G) / Keshon Gilbert (G) – Questionable (G League/two-way)
Cleveland is managing multiple frontcourt and perimeter absences, which could lead to heavier minutes for Evan Mobley and the remaining rotation. Atlanta’s injury list is lighter for key contributors, though Landale’s absence thins the interior.
Player Matchups & Probable Starters
CLE Probable Starters: Donovan Mitchell (SG – if active), Darius Garland (PG), Evan Mobley (PF/C), plus wings like Max Strus / Georges Niang and frontcourt depth.
ATL Probable Starters: Trae Young / equivalent lead guard, Nickeil Alexander-Walker (SG), Jalen Johnson (PF), Dyson Daniels (wing), and rotation bigs (minus Landale).
Key Matchups:
Donovan Mitchell / Darius Garland vs. Atlanta backcourt: Mitchell’s scoring explosion (31 pts in Game 1 of the series) and Garland’s playmaking test Atlanta’s perimeter defense.
Evan Mobley vs. Hawks frontcourt: Mobley dominated the glass (19 rebounds on Wednesday) and should exploit the absence of Landale inside.
Bench/Depth: Cleveland’s veteran pieces provide stability; Atlanta relies on athletic wings (Johnson, Daniels) and home energy to create mismatches in transition.
The Cavaliers’ size and defensive versatility give them an edge if healthy, but Atlanta’s pace and home scoring bursts could flip the script.
Recent Team Forms
Cavaliers (8-2 in last 10): Cleveland is rolling with wins in four straight (including 122-116 over Atlanta on April 8) and seven of eight overall. Offense has been efficient (123+ PPG recently), and the defense has been stingy.
Hawks (7-3 in last 10): Atlanta has been streaky but strong at home, winning four straight before dropping the last two (including to Cleveland and New York). They’ve shown explosive scoring but defensive lapses on the road.
Series History
Cleveland leads the 2025-26 season series 2-1 entering tonight (most recent: 122-116 CLE win on April 8 in Cleveland). The Hawks have taken 4 of the last 6 meetings historically, but games in Atlanta have been competitive. This is the finale of the two-game set.
Betting Trends
Hawks are strong as home favorites late in the season; Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS recently but have covered as underdogs sparingly on the road. Totals have gone UNDER in several recent Cavs road games.
Game Odds
Cleveland Cavaliers 233.5
Atlanta Hawks – 8.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, April 9, 2026
