Cavaliers
Updated: Oct. 22, 2025, 8:16 p.m.
|Published: Oct. 22, 2025, 7:40 p.m.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons, October 14, 2025
Cleveland Cavaliers forward/guard De'Andre Hunter will miss the season opener because of a knee injury. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
NEW YORK — It’s the first game of the regular season and the Cavs are already dealing with injuries.
Sources tell cleveland.com that starting small forward De’Andre Hunter will not play in Wednesday’s highly anticipated opener against the rival Knicks because of a right knee contusion. Sources say Hunter’s availability is uncertain for Friday in Brooklyn as well.
Hunter suffered the injury during the first half Cleveland’s preseason finale on Oct. 14. Even though Hunter said immediately after the game that he would be ready for Opening Night, the 6-foot-8 forward has been limited since taking the bump. He did not participate in practice Monday or Tuesday. He was also held out of the team portion of shootaround early Wednesday at Madison Square Garden, only going through an individual workout after.
The Cavs were already without Darius Garland (toe surgery) and Max Strus (foot surgery) — both of whom remain sidelined indefinitely.
With Hunter unavailable, second-year swingman Jaylon Tyson will get the start.
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