The Cleveland Cavaliers are listing Lonzo Ball as OUT ahead of tonight’s matchup against the Washington Wizards due to left knee injury management.
Cleveland is choosing to rest their now backup point guard, given the return of Darius Garland on Wednesday night in the team’s matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers. Ball logged 23 minutes of action, ending his night going 0-for-3 from the field but recording a season-tying eight assists and steadying the Cavs’ second unit in the process.
It’s clear the Cavaliers are being cautious regarding Ball, as they’ll continue to closely monitor his knee issues throughout the season. Ball has undergone multiple lower leg surgeries — specifically surrounding his left knee — and the organization remains focused on gradually building him back up to a full-season workload without setbacks.
Thus far, Ball has struggled to find his rhythm in his new environment. In seven games, he’s averaging 5.0 points, 5.7 assists, and 3.9 rebounds on below 30% shooting from both the field and three-point range. Despite seeing a minute increase of nearly two per game from last season, his confidence and offensive flow still seem to be a work in progress.
Cleveland resting Ball comes as a bit of a surprise, especially considering the team had a rest day between their last contest and tonight’s game against Washington. However, this marks Ball’s first official absence due to load management, a sign that the Cavaliers are finally in a position to manage his minutes properly with Garland back in the lineup.
As it stands, Darius Garland will handle the majority of the point guard duties moving forward, as seen during Wednesday night’s blowout win. Garland logged 26 minutes, recording eight points and four assists on 27.3% shooting from the field. It may take him a few games to rediscover his full rhythm, but his return gives Cleveland much-needed stability and playmaking.
Once both guards are fully healthy and in sync, the Cavaliers could see their record — currently sitting at 5-3 — rise quickly in a competitive Eastern Conference.
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