CLEVELAND, Ohio — So much for the Cavs getting close full strength.
A few hours ahead of the home matchup with the Boston Celtics, Cleveland released injury updates on three important rotational players.
The most significant injury came during Friday night’s 130-123 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, as reserve forward Larry Nance Jr. — one of the team’s prized offseason additions — injured his right calf. An MRI conducted Saturday revealed a Grade 1 soleus strain, with Nance expected to miss approximately 3-4 weeks.
Along with Nance, center Jarrett Allen could be sidelined for the next week.
Allen, who missed three games before playing 28 minutes on Friday, is still dealing with a painful right finger strain. Given that he also has a non-displaced fracture in his left ringer — an injury suffered on Oct. 29 — Cleveland felt it best to temporarily shut Allen down. Listed as out for Sunday night, Allen will likely miss Monday’s game in Indiana, Wednesday versus Portland and next weekend’s back-to-back — San Antonio and Golden State.
With a pair of frontcourt rotational members sidelined simultaneously, the Cavs will turn to two-way big man Nae’Qwan Tomlin and rarely used center Thomas Bryant.
Reserve marksman Sam Merrill, set to miss his sixth consecutive game Sunday, is considered day-to-day with a sprained right hand while Max Strus continues to make steady progress in his recovery from offseason foot surgery.