2 min read • January 03, 2022
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Cavaliers' starting shooting guard Isaac Okoro left Sunday's game in the 2nd quarter with a left elbow hyperextension, adding to the growing injured list of key Cleveland players.
The injury is a short-term one, and the soon-to-be-21-year-old should be able to return after a quick absence with a more padded elbow sleeve or brace. Because it is his off-hand, it will not have a major adverse effect on his shooting or his defensive ability.
Cleveland lost Ricky Rubio to a torn left ACL last week, and will be missing Collin Sexton for another 3-5 months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn left meniscus. Starting point guard Darius Garland is out in health and safety protocols, but is in line to return this week.
By video, Okoro suffered the injury while attempting to navigate a screen from Pacers' forward Domantas Sabonis. He bumped into Sabonis, forcing his elbow to flex, and immediately went to his knee grabbing the elbow before being subbed out with 3:11 left in the 2nd quarter. Okoro did not return.
The Cavaliers held on to win the contest, 108-104, pushing them to 5th in the East at 21-16. Cleveland faces Memphis on Tuesday, before heading on a 6-game West Coast road trip starting in Portland on Friday. For the meantime, the Cavs will forge ahead behind the strength of their front line of Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Kevin Love, and Lauri Markkanen.
Update:
The Cavaliers diagnosed Okoro with a left elbow sprain that will leave him out for 2-3 weeks. That timeline keeps him out for the entirety of the West Coast road trip, marking Jan. 17 versus the Nets as the first potential return date.
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