CLEVELAND, Ohio — With 10 games remaining in the regular season and the playoffs looming, the Cavs (58-14) continue to take a measured approach to player health, prioritizing long-term readiness over short-term gains.
That strategy will be on display Thursday night against the San Antonio Spurs, as Cleveland will be without Evan Mobley (rest), Ty Jerome (left knee soreness), and rookie Jaylon Tyson (left knee bone bruise) at Rocket Arena.
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Mobley’s absence is purely precautionary. His scheduled rest day comes at the front end of a back-to-back against a depleted Spurs team playing without Victor Wembanyama.
The Cavs have leaned on a strategic rotation of rest days for key contributors, ensuring peak performance when it matters most. With Mobley playing the best basketball of his career, head coach Kenny Atkinson and the Cavs’ medical staff see no need to push him unnecessarily ahead of the most crucial part of the season.
Jerome, meanwhile, has been a glue piece for the second unit all season, his steady hand and elite efficiency keeping Cleveland’s offense flowing. But the grind of a five-game road trip took its toll, particularly with Jerome absorbing contact in the lane while pursuing a rare 50-40-90 shooting season.
Having already played a career-high in games this year, Jerome’s body is adjusting to an increased workload. With De’Aaron Fox sidelined for the Spurs, Cleveland will lean even more heavily on Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, the latter returning after a brief absence to manage lingering groin soreness.
Although Jaylon Tyson, the Cavs’ lone rookie, hasn’t seen substantial minutes this season due to the Cavs’ depth, he hasn’t played in a game since March 18 mainly due to a bone bruise in his left knee.
The 22-year-old went through an individual non-contact workout on Thursday as he continues to progress towards a return. No timeline has been discussed for his return, but the Cavs will continue to be cautious.
Cleveland values Tyson’s potential and fought to keep him through the trade deadline, signaling confidence in his future. Given that investment, there’s no rush to accelerate his return in a deep rotation.
With the postseason in sight, the Cavs are playing the long game — one that doesn’t just prioritize winning in April, but ensuring they’re built to last deep into May and June.
“I think it’s part of my job to help guys stay healthy,” Atkinson said during his pregame press conference. “I communicate intimately, intensely with our performance staff and we bounce things off.
“Our number one goal is to keep these guys healthy. That’s a huge, huge advantage if we can go through these playoffs with a healthy roster.”