Cavs at Pelicans: How to watch, odds, and injury report
The Cavaliers will look to stay unbeaten during their short road trip.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 23: Sam Merrill #5 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at Rocket Arena on December 23, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Cleveland Cavaliers will look to finish off this three-game road trip with three-straight wins.
Like the other two teams the Cavs have already faced, their opponent on Saturday — the New Orleans Pelicans — isn’t exactly playing their best basketball. The Pelicans aren’t tanking. They don’t have their 2026 first after trading it away on draft night so that they could select Patrick Queen.
There’s no incentive for them to be bad; they just are. New Orleans is 25-46 this season, and well clear of the race for the final Play-In spot. They are, however, playing better of late as they’ve won three in a row, including a victory over Darius Garland and the Los Angeles Clippers in their last game.
The Cavs have struggled against bad teams during this road trip. They didn’t play up to their skill level in the wins over the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls. We’ll see if that changes this time around.