National Basketball Association

Cavs move start time to give Indians center stage in Cleveland

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:49 p.m. ET

Dan Graf

No one could have guessed that Cleveland would have a chance to be home to two world champion professional sports franchises, but now that it does, one of them is making room for the other.

The Cavaliers were scheduled to have a 7 p.m. ET tip-off Tuesday night against the Houston Rockets, but the NBA gave them permission to move that start time up by an hour to 6 p.m.

The Indians, of course, will be trying to close out the Chicago Cubs in Game 6 of the World Series, which begins at 8:08 p.m. ET.

The two teams play at neighboring sites – Quicken Loans Arena for the Cavs and Progressive Field for the Indians – and even share the same underground tunnel. The earlier start time for the NBA game will both ease downtown congestion in the event of an Indians victory and allow the Cavaliers to beat the traffic in time to fly out of Cleveland ahead of a Wednesday night game in New York.

Maybe the Indians can reciprocate if the Cavs are going for title No. 2 next June.

CLE, we fought hard to move @cavs tip to 6pm tomorrow so you wouldn't be torn. @cavs game should end by 2nd inning. Can't wait, @Indians!
— Dan Gilbert (@cavsdan) October 31, 2016