ATLANTA – The Cavs look to bounce back in the second leg of a home-and-away series against the Hawks, with Friday’s matinee kicking off at State Farm Arena at 2:30 p.m.

Cleveland, which still has one of the best records in the NBA, saw its 10-game home winning streak snapped in a 135-124 loss to Atlanta on Wednesday.

While Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley had standout performances, the Cavaliers’ defensive shortcomings and struggles in transition were exposed. Trae Young orchestrated Atlanta’s offense with surgical precision, scoring 20 points and a whopping 22 assists, while De’Andre Hunter burned Cleveland off the bench with 26 points.

Additionally, Friday’s game marks Cleveland’s third NBA Cup group play match in East Group C, which looks to be a close race.

Chicago, Atlanta and Boston are all tied at 2-1, while the Cavs are 1-1 and a half game behind. Cleveland has a plus-15 point difference, tied for the best in the group, which could become crucial if a tiebreaker is needed to determine the group winner.

With the Hawks sitting atop the group due to head-to-head results and Chicago hot on their heels after their win over Atlanta, the Cavs have a golden opportunity to put Atlanta on the back burner while improving their own chances of advancing to the knockout increase out-round.

For the Cavs, Friday is also a chance to reset their defensive identity. Head coach Kenny Atkinson has emphasized the need for sharper communication and more physicality, especially in transition defense – areas that will once again be tested by the Hawks’ fast-paced attack. With injuries continuing to impact Cleveland’s depth, the spotlight will remain on their Core Four to anchor both ends of the floor.