The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors both have key players on their respective injury reports ahead of their matchup on Monday night.
The Cavs have listed four players on their injury report, including defensive stopper Isaac Okoro.
Okoro is listed as out for Monday’s matchup along with Luke Travers, Emoni Bates and J.T. Thor. Bates, Travers and Thor are all on two-way contracts while Okoro is dealing with an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder.
A former lottery pick, Okoro has appeared in 23 games for the Cavs this season, averaging 6.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per contest. One of Cleveland’s best wing defenders, Okoro has developed into a 3-and-D threat over his first few seasons in the NBA.
This season, he is shooting 49.2 percent from beyond the arc – by far the best mark of his career.
The Warriors, who are currently the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference, have three players listed on their injury report for Monday’s contest.
Brandin Podziemski and Gary Payton II have been ruled out while Moses Moody is listed as probable. Podziemski is dealing with abdominal tightness while Payton has a calf strain in his left leg. Moody, who seems to be on track to play given his probable designation, is dealing with patellar tendonopathy in his left knee.
The biggest loss for Golden State on Monday may be Podziemski, as he was named to an All-Rookie team last season. This season, the former first-round pick is slumping a bit, averaging just 8.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 40.4 percent from the field and 29.5 percent from 3. As a rookie, Podziemski shot 45.4 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from deep.
The Cavs are the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and have a 27-4 record entering Monday’s matchup. Cleveland has won six games in a row, helping it open up a 4.5-game lead on the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference standings.
Golden State, on the other hand, has cooled off after a fast start. It has won just three of its last 10 games, falling to 16-15 overall on the season. The Warriors are 10 games back of the No. 1-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference.
The Cavs and Warriors are scheduled to tip off on Monday at 10 p.m. EST from Chase Center.
