The Cleveland Cavaliers look to make history tonight as they have never gone 9-0 in their existence. The New Orleans Pelicans are scrambling to get enough healthy players on the floor as they prepare to host the Cavaliers Wednesday night. Meanwhile, Cleveland is off to a hot start, matching the 8-0 run their 1976 squad had, after securing tight wins by one and two points in a home-and-home series with Milwaukee.

To put things into perspective, the Cavaliers’ first six victories came by an impressive average margin of 17 points. Watching them this season, it’s clear they’re not just winning—they’re dominating early, and they’ll be looking to keep that momentum going against New Orleans.

The Pelicans are really feeling the impact of several key injuries right now. In fact, in their 118-100 loss to the Portland Trailblazers on Monday, Brandon Ingram was the only one of the Pelicans’ top five scorers available to play—and he put up 27 points. The Cavs coach, Kenny Atkinson, is doing something right, and we all should listen to him.

“This is what it’s all about, right?” Cavs coach Atkinson said. “These last five minutes, clutch minutes — and how are we going to execute? How are we going to finish this game? These are great if you want to succeed in the playoffs. You’ve got to be really good in the pressure moments. I like that. We got pressure situations. We practiced it and fortunately came out on top.”

The only problem is that Donovan Mitchell is the one coming in clutch every time. Can he do it every time? Probably not. Let us jump into both team’s injury reports.

Will Zion Williamson hand the Cavs their first defeat?

Is a healthy season too much to ask for? Zion Williamson finds himself on the list once again as he is recovering from a hamstring injury. But he is listed as probable. Jordan Hawkins is at risk of missing his second consecutive game on Wednesday due to ongoing lower-back tightness. With CJ McCollum already out for several weeks with a thigh injury, we might see Brandon Boston Jr. stepping into the starting lineup again if Hawkins can’t go. Let’s see if Boston can step up and make an impact in another starting role if Hawkins sits out again.

Coach Willie Green praised Boston, saying, “He’s aggressive and assertive.” Boston signed a two-way contract shortly before the season started. “He’s putting his stamp on every game and carving out an opportunity for himself.”

The doctors diagnosed CJ McCollum with a right adductor strain, and unfortunately, this injury is expected to keep him out for another week. He had been averaging 18.8 points per game over the first four outings of the season. Jones is dealing with a right shoulder strain along with a minor tear in his rotator cuff. The Pelicans have stated that he’s likely to be sidelined anywhere from two weeks to a month. Dejounte Murray, who was New Orleans’ biggest offseason addition, fractured his hand late in the team’s season opener against the Chicago Bulls. It’s a tough break, especially for the Pelicans, who were counting on him to make an immediate impact.

At the start of the season, New Orleans was already without wing Trey Murphy III, as he’s still recovering from a right hamstring strain. He will be sitting out this game as well.

Another win will get them into the history books

The Cavaliers have used their depth to secure victories all season long, and this stands out even more when they face a short-handed team. With their bench consistently stepping up, Cleveland ranks sixth in bench minutes and eighth in bench points. They’re primed to dominate the bench minutes once again, so this game should be no different. It’s a big part of their success, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they continue to take advantage of it here. When you watch the Cavs, you can really feel how much they lean on their depth—it’s one of their biggest strengths this year.

Dean Wade started the first seven games for the Cavaliers, averaging 6.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in about 24 minutes per game. However, he’s now set to miss his second consecutive game. The next opportunity for Wade to return will be on Friday against the Golden State Warriors. With him out, Isaac Okoro will likely see more playing time, as he stepped into the starting role on Monday against the Bucks in place of Wade. It’ll be interesting to see how Okoro performs with the increased minutes.

Jayson Tyson will sit out for the third game in a row due to tightness in his left hip. The team has also listed Caris LeVert as questionable for Wednesday’s matchup against the Pelicans due to right knee soreness. This injury could keep him out for a third consecutive game, which would be another setback for the Cavaliers.

The Cavs will be looking to wrap up this game with less than healthy Pelicans side. Or will the Pelicans shock everyone and defeat the Cavs?