Preseason Live Thread: Cavs vs. 76ers

Fresh off showing their support for the Cleveland Indians as the Tribe took a 2-0 lead over the Boston Red Sox in the American League Division Series, the Cleveland Cavaliers look to continue their winning ways as they host the Philadelphia 76ers in preseason action tonight at the Q. It’s the preseason debut for Kyrie Irving, and Cavs fans get their first look at Sixers center Joel Embiid two years after the team strongly considered taking him over Andrew Wiggins with the first pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

Despite the returns of Irving and Embiid, both teams will be without key players for tonight’s matchup. On the Cavaliers’ side, starting center and noted iron man Tristan Thompson will sit the next two preseason games with a stiff left foot. An MRI on the foot didn’t show any structural damage, and Cavs coach Tyronn Lue doesn’t seemed overly concerned, and is simply holding Thompson out as a precautionary measure. The 76ers will be without power forward Ben Simmons, the first overall pick in last June’s draft and potentially the star Philadelphia fans have been waiting for, as he recovers from a fracture in his right foot.

As things stand, the Cavaliers will likely go with a starting lineup of Irving, Iman Shumpert, LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Chris Andersen. The 76ers will likely counter with T.J. McConnell, Gerald Henderson, Robert Covington, Dario Saric, and Joel Embiid. The main things to watch for each team are the battle for the backup point guard role for the Cavaliers, and how the 76ers manage minutes for the glut of big men, including Embiid, Saric, Nerlens Noel, and Jahlil Okafor.

To follow along for game coverage:

Watch: Fox Sports Ohio, NBATV

Radio: WTAM 1100, 100.7 WMMS

And don’t forget to stop in and share your thoughts here at Cavs: The Blog.