The Knicks have four key players on the injury report as well.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are once again resting players just like they did in Thursday’s loss to the Indiana Pacers. It’s just a different group this time. Evan Mobley and Max Strus will be returning to the lineup against the New York Knicks. Darius Garland could also join them. He’s listed as probable on the injury report with a left great toe sprain.
They will be replacing the Cavaliers who logged heavy minutes yesterday. De’Andre Hunter, Ty Jerome, and Sam Merrill will all be out of Friday’s game. Jerome’s official injury designation is left knee injury management. The other two are resting.
We’ll see how long head coach Kenny Atkinson chooses to go with the starters. The Cavaliers treated Thursday’s game against the Pacers like a preseason one. They kept their key players around 30 minutes and closed the game with Isaac Okoro and four other players who aren’t expected to get meaningful playoff minutes. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the same thing on Friday.
The Knicks still have something to play for, but also aren’t fully healthy. They could be without four key contributors as OG Anunoby (thumb), Jalen Brunson (ankle), Josh Hart (knee), and Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) are all questionable for Friday’s game.
The third and fourth seeds in the East are still up for grabs. The Knicks are likely to secure it. Their magic number for doing so is just one. But if they lost out and the Pacers won out, then Indiana would end up with the three seed and New York in the fourth.
This has ramifications for the Cavs in the short and long term. Cleveland closes the regular season on Sunday against the Pacers again. It’s also possible that they could play whoever ends up as the fourth seed in the second round of the playoffs.