Christmas Day basketball always brings stars, stakes, and storylines. This year’s opening matchup, Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks, adds another layer: a crowded injury report that could shape the game’s flow from the first tip. The headlines are clear. Jalen Brunson is in. Evan Mobley might be. And that contrast alone could swing the game on the glass and in the half court.

Knicks vs Cavaliers Injury Report: Brunson In, Anunoby Back, Mobley Questionable

The Knicks enter 20-9, sitting second in the Eastern Conference, and they get a needed lift on the holiday stage. As Shams Charania put it, “Sources say Jalen Brunson will play on Christmas Day in the first game of the slate… against the Cleveland Cavaliers.” That aligns with the team’s own update: the franchise’s “poster boy and point guard, Jalen Brunson, was taken off the injury report after he missed the previous game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.”

OG Anunoby also returns after missing the Minnesota loss with left ankle soreness — “The Knicks will also be bolstered with the return of OG Anunoby, who missed the previous game with left ankle soreness.” The wing’s size and defense may be vital if Cleveland’s backcourt gets downhill. On the other side, Cleveland’s front line depth has taken hits. Larry Nance Jr. (calf) and Max Strus (fractured left foot) are out, and Evan Mobley (calf) is listed as questionable. If Mobley sits, the Cavaliers’ rebounding problems — already tracking near the bottom of the league in recent games — come into sharper focus.

New York’s status sheet isn’t spotless. Guerschon Yabusele has been upgraded to questionable with illness, while Miles McBride (left ankle sprain) and Landry Shamet (right shoulder) remain out. Expect Tom Thibodeau to tighten the rotation, as usual.

“If Brunson’s right, the Knicks’ half-court looks unstoppable tonight.“

Brunson’s Return Resets New York’s Offense

Brunson missed the 115-104 defeat to Minnesota on Dec. 23. Without him, New York struggled to create clean looks late. With him, the offense has shape and pace. He scorched Miami for 47 points and 8 assists in a recent showcase and is averaging 29.1 points per game — seventh in the NBA — while posting 31.8 points per game across his last five. Those numbers matter because they force Cleveland to pick a poison: load up on Brunson’s drives or concede easier catch-and-shoot threes to role players.

Josh Hart’s all-around line — 12.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 2 steals, and 2 made threes — has become the Knicks’ glue. With Brunson orchestrating, Hart turns into a pressure release: he screens, cuts, rebounds, and sparks transition. Add a healthy Anunoby to that mix and the Knicks can guard multiple positions while still keeping the floor spaced.

Cleveland’s Frontcourt Crunch and the Mobley Question

Cleveland’s margin up front is thin. With Nance Jr. and Strus ruled out and Mobley’s calf in doubt, the Cavaliers lean even more on Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland to carry the load. That’s never a bad idea on paper — Mitchell is averaging 28.5 points, 4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 4 made threes, while Garland sits at 18.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3.5 made threes — but it puts pressure on the defensive glass and rim protection.

If Mobley plays, he changes the angles for Brunson’s pick-and-rolls and gives Cleveland a second-chance safety net. If he doesn’t, New York can tilt the court with Hart crashing and Anunoby running the lanes. That is where this game may be won: on extra possessions and corner threes created off offensive boards.

“No Mobley, no boards — that’s the swing stat.“

Form Guide: What Recent Results Tell Us

The Knicks’ slip at Minnesota — without Brunson — was a reminder of how central he is to their identity. Karl-Anthony Towns’ recent averages of 21 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 made threes underscore how physical, skilled bigs can stress New York when Brunson, their pace-setter, is out. With him back, the Knicks get the tempo and structure they missed two nights ago.

For Cleveland, the concern is simpler: keep the game close on the glass and hit enough threes to loosen New York’s help. Mitchell’s pull-up shooting — highlighted by those 4 made threes per game — is the pressure point. If Garland’s playmaking (9 assists per game) opens up early, Cleveland’s offense can hum even without a dominant interior night.

Matchup Keys: Rebounding, Rim Pressure, and Threes

• Rebounding: If Mobley sits, New York’s wings can tilt the possession battle. If he plays, Cleveland can reset its paint control.
• Rim Pressure: Brunson’s drives force rotations. Anunoby’s cutting and Hart’s put-backs thrive off those rotations.
• Threes: Mitchell and Garland’s combined 7.5 made threes (based on averages) are Cleveland’s equalizer. New York’s spacing improves with Brunson and Anunoby both active.

“Christmas hoops deserve stars — let’s hope the final calls go green.“

Final Whistle: Availability Will Decide the Edge

As of the latest reports (Dec. 24–25), the broad picture is set: Brunson is expected to play, Anunoby returns, Mobley is a game-time swing, and several depth pieces remain out. Across the wider Christmas slate, notable names — including Lonzo Ball — carried questionable tags, reminding everyone that status can shift right up to tip.

In a game of thin margins, the opening minutes will tell the story. If New York controls the glass and Brunson finds a rhythm, the Knicks look like the steadier side at 20-9. If Cleveland gets hot from three and steadies the boards — with or without Mobley — Donovan Mitchell has the star power to steal the holiday spotlight.

Either way, it’s a strong way to open the Christmas Day slate: marquee guards, heavyweight defenses, and a chess match built around who is available, when, and for how long.