Cavaliers vs Nets: Hunter Out as Cleveland Seeks First Win

The Cleveland Cavaliers hit the road Friday night looking to bounce back from their season-opening loss, but they'll have to do so without a key member of their starting lineup. De'Andre Hunter will miss his second consecutive game due to a knee contusion as the Cavs face the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center.

Hunter's Absence Continues to Impact Cavaliers

According to sources from Cleveland.com, Hunter suffered the knee contusion on October 14 and remains sidelined for Friday's 7:30 p.m. ET matchup. The starting small forward's status for Sunday's home opener at Rocket Arena against the Milwaukee Bucks remains uncertain, adding another wrinkle to Cleveland's early-season challenges.

The Cavaliers are already dealing with significant injuries to their roster. Guard Darius Garland remains out with a left great toe injury, while Max Strus continues to recover from a foot issue. Despite these absences, Cleveland entered the season as one of the Eastern Conference's top contenders, making their opening night stumble against the New York Knicks all the more concerning.

Learning from the Knicks Loss

Cleveland's 119-111 defeat at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday revealed several areas requiring immediate attention. The Cavaliers' biggest problem wasn't their offense—Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points, while Evan Mobley contributed 22 and Sam Merrill added 19. Instead, it was their approach at the free-throw line and defensive discipline that cost them.

The Knicks attempted an astounding 36 free throws, with the Cavaliers committing fouls at an alarming rate. Jaylon Tyson and Sam Merrill were particularly guilty of sending New York to the charity stripe. Cleveland also struggled on the boards, getting out-rebounded 32-28, and failed to effectively utilize Jarrett Allen, who took just four shots despite his size advantage.

According to Sports Illustrated, Allen's poor showing became a central topic in the team's film session. The Cavaliers need their defensive anchor to be more assertive on both ends of the floor if they hope to compete with the conference's elite teams.

Brooklyn Presents Opportunity for Correction

The Brooklyn Nets (0-1) may provide the perfect opponent for Cleveland to work out these early-season kinks. Brooklyn opened their season with a disappointing 136-117 home loss to the Charlotte Hornets, a game that exposed significant defensive vulnerabilities.

Nicolas Claxton led the Nets with 17 points, while Cam Thomas added 15 despite shooting just 22% from the field. The silver lining for Brooklyn was rookie Egor Demin, the eighth overall pick, who scored 14 points and connected on 3-of-4 three-point attempts in his NBA debut.

However, Brooklyn's frontcourt lacks the depth and physicality to contend with Cleveland's twin towers of Allen and Mobley. The Nets also have their own injury concerns, with Drake Powell (ankle), Danny Wolf (ankle), and Haywood Highsmith (knee) all sidelined for Friday's contest.

Betting Lines Favor Cavaliers Despite Setback

Despite their opening loss and mounting injuries, oddsmakers are showing confidence in Cleveland. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Cavaliers are 11.5-point favorites with an over/under set at 230.5 points. The betting data gives Cleveland an 84% chance of securing their first victory of the season on the road.

The spread reflects the talent disparity between these franchises. While Brooklyn is rebuilding around young pieces like Thomas and Demin, Cleveland's core of Mitchell, Mobley, and Allen—even without Garland—represents a significantly higher caliber of basketball.

Keys to Victory for Cleveland

For the Cavaliers to get back on track, they must address three critical areas:

1. Establish Interior Dominance

With Brooklyn's frontcourt limitations, Cleveland should feed Allen and Mobley early and often. Allen's four shot attempts against New York were unacceptable given his matchup advantages. Against a Nets team that allowed 136 points to Charlotte, the Cavaliers' bigs should feast in the paint.

2. Maintain Defensive Discipline

The foul trouble that plagued Cleveland against the Knicks cannot continue. Brooklyn's offense runs through Cam Thomas and Michael Porter Jr., both high-volume shooters. Smart defensive rotations and avoiding unnecessary contact will be crucial.

3. Control the Glass

Cleveland's rebounding struggles against New York must be corrected. The Nets grabbed 50 boards against the Hornets while Brooklyn's opponents collected just 38. Winning the battle on the boards will lead to second-chance opportunities and limit Brooklyn's transition game.

What to Watch

The game will air on FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. Beyond the final score, several storylines deserve attention:

Can Mitchell maintain his scoring efficiency while taking on additional playmaking responsibilities without Garland? Will Allen assert himself after his passive performance in the opener? How will Brooklyn's rookie Demin follow up his impressive debut?

The Cavaliers also unveiled a new home court ahead of the NBA Cup Tournament, though they won't get to showcase it until Sunday's home opener against Milwaukee. That makes Friday's game in Brooklyn all the more important—Cleveland needs momentum heading into a challenging early-season schedule.

Looking Ahead

After facing Brooklyn, Cleveland returns home to host the Bucks on Sunday before traveling to Detroit on Monday and Boston on Wednesday. With such a demanding schedule, banking wins against teams like Brooklyn becomes essential.

The Nets, meanwhile, hope to find some rhythm after their defensive collapse against Charlotte. While they're not expected to contend in the Eastern Conference, Brooklyn's young core needs to show improvement and competitiveness. Allowing 136 points in your home opener sets a concerning precedent.

The Bottom Line

The Cavaliers face a crucial early-season test Friday night, not because Brooklyn poses an overwhelming challenge, but because Cleveland must prove they can execute their game plan and overcome adversity. Hunter's absence, combined with the injuries to Garland and Strus, forces role players to step up and the team's stars to shoulder greater responsibility.

Mitchell's 31-point performance against the Knicks showed he's ready for that challenge. Now Allen and Mobley must follow suit. The talent gap between these teams is significant, but basketball games aren't won on paper. Cleveland must play with discipline, intensity, and focus for a full 48 minutes.

For the Nets, this represents an opportunity to steal a win against a shorthanded conference contender. Claxton will need a dominant performance, and Thomas must find his shooting touch. But ultimately, Brooklyn's defensive deficiencies and frontcourt limitations will likely prove too much to overcome against Cleveland's size and skill.

As both teams search for their first victory of the season, expect the Cavaliers to impose their will in the paint and emerge with a confidence-building road win. The question isn't whether Cleveland will win, but whether they'll execute cleanly enough to silence concerns about their depth and discipline moving forward.