Cavs Insider

What To Expect In Tonight’s Cavs-Blazers Matchup

Cleveland seeks to split its four-game Western Conference road trip with a victory over Portland tonight.
Logan Potosky|
What To Expect In Tonight’s Cavs-Blazers Matchup
What To Expect In Tonight’s Cavs-Blazers Matchup

In this story:

Cleveland Cavaliers

Tonight, the Cleveland Cavaliers wrap up a four-game Western Conference road trip with a contest against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Cleveland has lost two of the first three games of this road trip, most recently falling to the Sacramento Kings by a score of 132-120 this past Monday night.

Here are four things to expect in tonight’s game between the Cavaliers and Trail Blazers.

1. A Jarrett Allen Breakout Game

In his first five contests this season, Jarrett Allen has not scored more than 14 points nor grabbed more than nine rebounds.

On the contrary, according to @CavsNotes on X, he is averaging 21.3 points and 13.3 rebounds per game in Cleveland’s last four games against Portland.

The 2022 All-Star is well overdue for a big game.

2. Better Cleveland Defense

In their last game, the Cavaliers allowed a season-high 132 points, including a season-high 42 in the third quarter.

Portland, however, has had a slow offensive start in its first 10 games this season.

The Trail Blazers rank bottom-five in the NBA in scoring (105.7 PPG, last), three-pointers made per game (9.9, second-fewest), and field-goal percentage (43.8%), while being one of seven teams averaging at least 16 turnovers per game.

3. Ayton Anchoring the Paint

After being acquired in the Damian Lillard trade this offseason, Deandre Ayton is having a productive first season with Portland.

The first overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft ranks fourth in the league with an average of 12.0 rebounds per game, while recording six double-doubles so far this season.

4. Tough Trail Blazers Perimeter Defense

Despite its 3-7 record, Portland is one of the NBA’s premier perimeter defensive teams.

The Trail Blazers rank top-five in the league in both opponent three-pointers made per game (10.2, second) and opponent three-point percentage (32.5%, fourth).

Published
Logan Potosky
LOGAN POTOSKY

Logan Potosky is an aspiring play-by-play sports broadcaster who, to date, has called approximately 350+ hours of professional, college, and high school sporting events. He is currently the Play-by-Play Broadcaster for the Lake County Captains, the High-A Affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. He graduated from John Carroll University in May of 2023 with a degree in Communication, with a concentration in Digital Media, and a minor in Entrepreneurship.

Home/Opinion