Evan Mobley will be getting a well-deserved day off on Thursday.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are coming up on the end of a grueling month. Even though their road trip is over, the schedule makers still decided to throw one more curveball their way. They play a back-to-back on Thursday and Friday with the second game being on the road against a surging Detroit Pistons team. Unsurprisingly, the Cavs are going to be resting at least one of their key players on Thursday.
Cleveland will be without Evan Mobley (rest) against the San Antonio Spurs. Mobley played in each of the games during their most recent road trip after missing the March 16 loss to the Orlando Magic with a foot contusion.
Mobley has had an up-and-down road trip. He had one of his best offensive games in the loss to the Sacramento Kings and put together a phenomenal defensive performance in the most recent win over the Portland Trail Blazers. However, he wasn’t able to crack 20 points in the three other games during this trip and struggled on the glass in the loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Overall, Mobley is averaging 18.7 points and 9.4 rebounds on the season.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson mentioned after yesterday’s win that this has been a grueling month. That has certainly been true as they’ve yet to play consecutive games in the same city in March and have spent far more time on the road. Additionally, they don’t have much to play for at this point in the regular season. This has led to stars, like Donovan Mitchell, getting nights off when it makes sense. It wouldn’t be shocking if another one of their top players sat out Friday’s game in Detroit.
The Cavs might also be without Ty Jerome. He is on the injury report with knee soreness. Jaylon Tyson will be missing Thursday’s game with a left knee bone bruise.
The Spurs are limping to the finish line this season. They will be without Victor Wembanyama (blood clot), De’Aaron Fox (finger), and Charles Bassey (knee).