CLEVELAND — Cavaliers rookie forward Evan Mobley will miss Wednesday night’s game against Dallas — and maybe more — with a sprained left ankle as the injury-plagued team battles for a playoff spot.
Mobley was injured in the first half of Monday’s win over Orlando. The 7-footer went up to contest a shot and then landed on Magic forward Franz Wagner’s foot, rolling his ankle in the process.
Mobley hobbled into the locker room and did not return. After shaking off the shock of yet another injury, the Cavaliers held on to a 107-101 win. It was her 42nd this season, 20 more than a year ago, and gave Cleveland its first winning season without LeBron James on the roster since 1998.
The team didn’t issue an update on Mobley, 20, but did list him in its injury report, which has been filled with Cavaliers player names for months.
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Mobley, the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, averages 14.9 points and 8.3 rebounds in 67 starts and is a contender for Rookie of the Year honors.
All-Star Center Jarrett Allen will also miss the duel with the Mavericks. He has been out since March 6 with a broken finger and it is unknown when he will be back with the Cavs, who are seventh in the Eastern Conference with seven games remaining.
The top six teams will receive guaranteed playoff spots, while teams ranked #7-10 will clash in a play-in tournament.
The Cavs lost top scorer Collin Sexton, veteran guard Ricky Rubio and forward Dean Wade to season-ending knee injuries. Allen has been out for the last 11 games and guard Rajon Rondo has missed the last eight with a sprained right ankle.
The team was also long without Caris LeVert and forward Lauri Markkanen, forcing coach JB Bickerstaff to get creative with lineups, rotations and strategy.
“I don’t know if there was another team that went through what we went through – Caris is out and Lauri is out and DG is out whoever it may be,” said striker Kevin Love after the win in Orlando. “We’ve had guys coming up and playing well, but we’re the kind of team where our strength of the team is the team.
“When we’re whole, we’re just a lot better.”
With Monday’s win, the Cavaliers slipped after three games and celebrated their first winning season in four years.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.