The NBA’s top team will be without its best defensive stopper for at least two weeks.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro suffered a sprained right shoulder during the 130-101 win over the Brooklyn Nets in the third quarter. An MRI examination on Wednesday confirmed a right AC joint sprain, according to the team.
Okoro, soon to be 24, is considered one of the team’s best defensive players. That could be a factor as the Cavaliers face stars like Damian Lillard, Tyrese Maxey, Jamal Murray, Stephen Curry and LeBron James in the upcoming games on their schedule.
“It gives you so much comfort to have that guy, you can keep someone, whether it’s Trae Young, so whether it’s a point guard or we can say, ‘Hey, go guard Jayson Tatum tonight,’” Cavaliers said -head coach Kenny. Atkinson, via Cleveland.com.
“Isaac can guard fours, he can also switch to fives because he is so strong,” he added. “We can use this man as our Swiss Army knife. He can guard anyone. He’s been great for us.”
Although Okoro averages 6.6 points per game, he has always been a good 3-point shooter and has improved that part of his game this season. The fifth-year veteran is shooting 49% (30 of 61) from long range this season.
“With Isaac out, we have to continue to take our physicality to the next level,” Donovan Mitchell told Ethan Sands of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. ‘He’s that kind of man [has been] knocking down shots and teams wanting to move on from him. You clearly miss him defensively, but offensively he is playing phenomenally for us.”
The Cavaliers say Okoro will be reevaluated in two weeks. He re-signed with Cleveland during the offseason, agreeing to a three-year, $38 million contract.
In the meantime, Cleveland could get a key player back with Okoro sidelined. Max Strus, who has not played this season due to an ankle injury, is about to return. Last season, Strus averaged a career-high 12.2 points while shooting 35% on 3s.
