by The NBA’s top team will be without its best defensive player for at least two weeks.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro suffered a sprained right shoulder in the third quarter of Monday’s 130-101 win over the Brooklyn Nets. According to the team, an MRI scan on Wednesday confirmed a right AC joint sprain.
The soon-to-be 24-year-old Okoro is considered one of the team’s best defensive players. That could be a factor as the Cavaliers will face stars like Damian Lillard, Tyrese Maxey, Jamal Murray, Stephen Curry and LeBron James in upcoming games.
“It gives you so much comfort to have that guy that you can hang on someone, whether it’s Trae Young, so whether it’s a point guard or we can say, ‘Hey, go guard tonight Jayson Tatum,’” Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson said, via Cleveland.com.
“Isaac can defend fours, he can also switch to fives because he is so strong,” he added. “We can use this guy as our Swiss army knife.” He can protect anyone. He was great for us.”
While 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 distance this season.
“With Isaac out, we need to continue to push our physical performance to new levels,” Donovan Mitchell told Ethan Sands of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “That’s him [has been] He knocks down shots and teams want to move on from him. Obviously he’s missed on defense, but he’s been playing phenomenal offensively for us.”
The Cavaliers say Okoro will be reevaluated in two weeks. He re-signed with Cleveland in the offseason, agreeing to a three-year, $38 million contract.
Meanwhile, Cleveland could bring back a key player while Okoro is out. Max Strus, who has not played this season due to an ankle injury, is close to returning. Last season, Strus averaged 12.2 points while making 35% of his three-pointers.
