Injury concerns will be at the forefront when the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Toronto Raptors in the season opener for both teams on Wednesday.
The Cavaliers will try to fill the void of Max Strus, who will be out at least six weeks due to a sprained ankle.
The Raptors listed RJ Barrett (shoulder) as out though he took part in non-contact practices on Monday and Tuesday. Barrett has been sidelined since the team’s first preseason game on Oct. 6.
The absence of Strus removes a key player from Cleveland’s starting lineup that includes Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. The group played only 28 games together last season because of injuries.
Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson continues to work on a plan moving forward.
“We haven’t decided yet,” Atkinson said about how to make up for Strus’ absence. “We’ll just have to see and study Toronto a little more. See what fits that matchup best, I think is where we’re at right now.”
Dean Wade and Caris LeVert are options to fill the role.
“It’s not necessarily just those two,” Atkinson said. “It could be somebody else. We have to figure that out. That’s what we’re in the process of doing right now.”
That other option could be Isaac Okoro.
“You always feel terrible for the player, especially Max, as hard as he works and what a vital cog he is to this team,” Atkinson said. “You lose one of your top players, it’s a blow. But we have great depth. A lot of teams could be affected by this. We’ve got some guys that can step in and will help us until he gets back.”
Barrett said earlier this week that he wanted to play in the opener.
“I mean, it feels better than it did two weeks ago,” Barrett said. “Sometimes I feel good. (Monday) it didn’t feel so good, so it’s a work in progress. My goal is to play, but if I go through it and it doesn’t feel right, it’s just going to have to be what it is.”
Toronto has other injury issues. Kelly Olynyk (back) will also miss the game. He did not take part in practice Monday or Tuesday after missing the final three preseason games.
Ja’Kobe Walter (shoulder) missed the preseason, although he practiced Monday, with coach Darko Rajakovic saying that this year’s 19th overall draft pick is considered week-to-week. Bruce Brown (arthroscopic knee surgery) has been working on shooting drills and Immanuel Quickley (sprained thumb) returned to play on Friday after missing the first four preseason games.
The Raptors have key players returning from injuries that cut short their 2023-24 seasons. Scottie Barnes had a fractured third metacarpal on left hand that forced him to miss the final 22 games of the season and Jakob Poeltl missed the final 21 games with a fractured left pinky finger.
Toronto used a franchise-record 30 players last season. Barnes, Barrett, Poeltl and Quickley played 14 games together with a 7-7 record .
“It’s tough, especially for a team like us,” Poeltl said. “We haven’t played together for very long, like the starters played a little bit together last year. We’ve got so many new faces, the more practice and games we can get in together, the better.”
