Cleveland (55-10) at Memphis (42-24)
- When: Mar 14 2025, 8:00 PM
- Where: FedExForum, Memphis, TN, USA
- TV: FDSSE
Cavaliers Aim for Franchise Record as They Visit Memphis
Cleveland Cavaliers: Chasing History
The Cavaliers continue to defy expectations, and they are now just one win away from breaking their franchise record for consecutive victories. Cleveland has rattled off 15 straight wins, and they’ve done it despite missing key players.
In Tuesday’s comeback victory over Brooklyn, Cleveland was without Donovan Mitchell, De’Andre Hunter, and Ty Jerome, yet they still erased an 18-point deficit to secure another impressive win. Darius Garland took over late, scoring 18 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter to help the Cavs clinch their division.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson praised Garland’s ability to deliver under pressure:
“Darius is the clutch player of the year. He just does it in the fourth quarter. He’s done it all year.”
The Cavs have found ways to win no matter the circumstances, showing their depth, defensive toughness, and resilience. Even when shots weren’t falling against Brooklyn, they leaned on their defense—particularly Jarrett Allen—to grind out another victory.
Now, they head to Memphis looking for win No. 16 in a row, something that hasn’t been done in franchise history.
Memphis Grizzlies: Trying to Play Spoiler
Memphis has won four straight and will attempt to disrupt Cleveland’s historic run, but their recent victories have been far from dominant.
On Wednesday, the Grizzlies built a 19-point lead over Utah only to nearly collapse down the stretch before pulling out a 122-115 win. Similarly, in Monday’s game against Phoenix, Memphis nearly blew a late lead, needing a missed Kevin Durant three-pointer at the buzzer to escape with a 120-118 victory.
Head coach Taylor Jenkins acknowledges his team’s inability to close games:
“I’m aware of our inability right now to stretch leads, but it’s kind of the nature of the season.”
Despite their struggles, Ja Morant has consistently delivered in crunch time. He scored eight points in the final four minutes against Phoenix, including a clutch floater with 35 seconds remaining.
“I feel like we disrespect a lot of guys in this league just because of their team record,” Morant said. “They’re still NBA players. They’re here for a reason.”
Memphis has barely survived against lesser competition, and Cleveland presents an entirely different challenge. The Cavaliers aren’t just surviving—they are thriving, and they enter this matchup as the superior team on both ends of the floor.
Betting Outlook: Cavaliers Stay Hot
Memphis has had trouble putting teams away, and that won’t work against a battle-tested Cleveland squad. The Cavaliers are playing their best basketball of the season, even without a full roster, and their defensive intensity should wear down Memphis late.
Cleveland wins and covers (-2.0)
Under 244.0 hits as Cleveland’s defense controls the pace
Cavs make history with their franchise-record 16th straight win
- NBA Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
