Despite some recent bumps in the road, the Cleveland Cavaliers have had a magnificent season. At 37-9, they are 5.5 games up on the second place Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference. Up until recently, Cleveland had mostly experienced good health (other than Max Strus). The injury list has increased in recent games, and one of the players who has been sidelined is Dean Wade. A recent update makes it seem as if it will be weeks before he is on the court again.
Cavaliers Starter Expected To Miss Multiple Weeks With Injury
Dean Wade’s Injury Will Sideline Him For Some Time
In a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday, Wade was forced to depart from the game in the third quarter with a right knee injury. The 28-year-old forward has missed each of Cleveland’s last two contests, and that number will continue to rise.
According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, a scan has revealed a bone bruise on Wade’s right knee. While there’s no exact timetable for how long it will sideline him for, Fedor states that it is expected to sideline him for multiple weeks.
It is a tough break for Wade and the Cavaliers, as he was one of the unsung players who played an integral role on a team having so much success. Standing at 6-foot-9, Wade has appeared in 35 outings this season, making 26 starts. He has posted averages of 6.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 0.9 steals in 22.8 minutes. About 83.2% of Wade’s field goal attempts were from three-point range, and he has connected on 34.9% of them.
Max Strus Should Remain In Starting Lineup With Wade Out
While Wade’s averages are somewhat pedestrian, they understate the value that he brings to the team. Cleveland has been better with him on the court in each of the last four seasons. While the other four starters can score 20+ on any given night, Wade is there to be a defensive presence and someone that opposing teams cannot just leave wide open to double team someone else.
With Wade out, expect Strus to continue to remain in the starting lineup. The 28-year-old Strus started all 70 of his appearances for Cleveland last season. Missing the first 27 games of the 2024-25 season, he returned to play a reserve role. With Evan Mobley also missing recent games, Strus has started the Cavaliers last five outings. In those games, he has averaged 8.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists.
Put 3-Game Losing Streak To A Close On Monday
After only experiencing one two-game losing streak in their first 42 games, the Cavaliers lost three in a row from January 22-25. They were able to get back into the win column on Monday with a 110-91 victory at home over the Detroit Pistons.
For much of the season, Cleveland has had the best record in the NBA after racing out to a 15-0 start. That is no longer the case as the Oklahoma City Thunder are now a half-game better than them at 37-8. The Cavaliers will next play on Wednesday against the Miami Heat on the road.
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