Cavaliers rookie Evan Mobley will return for Friday’s crucial matchup against the Nets, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.
Mobley will start the game at center, moving Moses Brown back to the bench, and is expected to play around 30 minutes, Fedor reports.
Mobley has missed Cleveland’s last five games with a sprained left ankle; the team went just 1-4 in his absence. Mobley had previously been listed as questionable for Friday’s game, but was able to do “everything” at practice on Thursday.
The 7’0″ big man is one of the leading candidates for Rookie of the Year this season, posting averages of 14.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.6 blocks on .506/.253/.664 shooting through 67 games (33.9 minutes per night).
Cleveland’s road game at Brooklyn will have a major effect on the seedings for the Eastern Conference play-in tournament. The Cavaliers are currently the No. 7 seed at 43-37, but only hold a one-game lead over Brooklyn and Atlanta (both are 42-38). Charlotte, the current No. 10 seed, trails by two games at 41-39.
The Cavs have dealt with a number of injuries to key players this season, so Mobley’s return will be a welcome boost for the struggling club. All-Star center Jarrett Allen (broken finger) remains sidelined, and Cleveland is also playing without Dean Wade (knee) and Collin Sexton (knee), who are both out for the rest of the season.
Too little, too late. Scottie is the ROTY.
Homers are cool.
Be nice if he would have come back vs Orlando even 15 minutes. That loss was ridiculous.
Cmon let’s seal that homecourt! And ROY.
I assume BRO will win the tiebreak if they beat CLE?
Time to quit forgiving Kyrie lol
Yes tiebreaker is Brk-
Brk wins out they 7 seed
I think right now the ROY is gonna… Scottie Barnes!
“He is also, potentially, a franchise-changer. Barnes finds cutters out of the high post, bullies smaller defenders and communicates like a veteran. “It’s crazy,” VanVleet says. “It’s a good recipe, though, for sure.” Since the All-Star break, he has averaged 17.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists, helping the Raptors leap to fifth in the East and strengthening his already strong case for Rookie of the Year.”
link to cbssports.com
I would’ve drafted Suggs or Kuminga if I’m the Raptors. I still like those two players. But gotta give Raptors big props for taking Scottie. He’s a special talent. And should be ROY contender. Cade, Mobley, Barnes are top Rookies to me. It should be Scottie or Cade IMO