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GameDay Preview: Cavaliers vs. Atlanta Hawks

Game Summary

The reigning Eastern Conference Champion Cleveland Cavaliers will open the 2015 Preseason on Wednesday against the Atlanta Hawks at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Tipoff is at 7:00 p.m. ET.

The Cavaliers finished the 2014-15 regular season with the 2nd-best record in the Eastern Conference at 53-29, leading to its 4th Central Division crown in team history.

The 2014-15 Cavs became the eighth team in franchise history to win at least 50 games in a single season. The 53 wins on the year was the 6th-most in team history. The Wine and Gold went an NBA-best 34-9 over the final 43 games of the 2014-15 regular season (since Jan. 15).

Atlanta looks to build upon a successful 2014-15 campaign in which they posted the best record in the Eastern Conference during the regular season at 60-22.

Key additions to Atlanta's roster for 2015-16 include center Tiago Splitter and swingman Tim Hardaway Jr. while starting small forward DeMarre Carroll departed this offseason, signing a free agent deal with the Toronto Raptors.

Probable Starters/Status Update* presented by Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic

Status Update: (Cavs) - Iman Shumpert, (Ruptured Extensor Carpi Ulnaris, Out), Kevin Love, (Left Shoulder Dislocation, Out), Kyrie Irving, (Fractured Left Knee Cap, Out)

Status Update: (Hawks) - None to Report

Matthew Dellavedova

Tune into FOX Sports Ohio, NBATV.

WTAM 1100, 87.7 FM La Mega

Learn more about tonight’s matchup.

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Head-to-Head Matchup

The last time Cleveland and Atlanta played each other was during the Eastern Conference Finals where the Cavs went on to sweep the Hawks, 4-0, to advance to the NBA Finals and garner their second ever Eastern Conference title.

In the series-clinching victory in Game 4, Cleveland defeated Atlanta by 30 points (118-88), which tied their largest margin of victory in franchise playoff history (also had a 30-point win over Washington on April 21, 2008, 116-86).

In the ECF against the Hawks, LeBron James averaged a near triple-double: 30.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 9.3 assists and 2.0 steals in 38.3 minutes per game. No other player in league history has ever averaged at least 30.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 9.0 assists in a playoff series.

Where to Catch the Action

TV: FOX Sports Ohio, NBATV, Radio: WTAM 1100, 87.7 La Mega

For live in-game updates, follow @cavs, @CavsJoeG, @CavsFredMcLeod, @MrCavalier34, @CavsJMike and @chones22 on Twitter.

2015 Preseason

The Cavs preseason, presented by Discount Drug Mart, features seven contests, including three games in Cleveland at Quicken Loans Arena (Oct. 13 vs. Milwaukee, Oct. 15 vs. Indiana, Oct. 19 vs. Dallas) and two games on the road in Philadelphia (Oct. 8) and Toronto (Oct. 18). In addition to the preseason opener in Cincinnati, another #AllForOhio contest will be played in Columbus at the Schottenstein Center (Oct. 12 vs. Memphis).