The Cleveland Cavaliers will be without Sam Merrill and Jarrett Allen against the New York Knicks on Saturday, leaving Kenny Atkinson with another lineup decision as Cleveland finishes a home back-to-back.
The NBA’s 4:45 p.m. ET injury report lists Merrill out with right elbow injury management and Allen out with a right knee contusion. Jaylon Tyson also remains out with a right ankle sprain.
Merrill’s absence adds a new complication after he started Friday with Allen unavailable. Cleveland must now replace a player it had already used to adjust its opening group.
Cavs injury report vs. Knicks
The following Cleveland players are listed as out for Saturday:
| Player | Reason |
|---|---|
| Jarrett Allen | Right knee contusion |
| Sam Merrill | Right elbow injury management |
| Jaylon Tyson | Right ankle sprain |
| Nae’Qwan Tomlin | Low back stress reaction |
| Khalifa Diop | G League assignment |
| Tristan Enaruna | G League two-way |
| Ernest Udeh Jr. | G League two-way |
The G League entries are separate from the injury absences. Peyton Watson and Tyrese Proctor are not listed on this report after appearing as questionable in Cleveland’s earlier report for the Philadelphia game.
Sam Merrill’s absence creates another lineup decision
Merrill’s elbow issue interrupted Friday’s game. He did not return to the game because of a right elbow injury.
Atkinson subsequently acknowledged that the elbow was troubling Merrill.
“Yeah, it’s bothering him,” Atkinson said.
He left Merrill’s Saturday status open at that point. The subsequent injury report resolves that question for the Knicks game, without establishing a longer recovery timetable.
Meleek Thomas and Proctor are possible options if Atkinson wants another guard alongside James Harden and Donovan Mitchell.
A larger combination involving Mario Hezonja would offer a different way to distribute the forward minutes. Those are potential responses to the absences, not a confirmed starting five.
The distinction matters because choosing a replacement also changes the reserves available later. Promoting a guard would move one of Cleveland’s ball-handling options into the opening group; using another forward could preserve that guard for the second unit.
Atkinson could also distribute Merrill’s minutes among multiple players rather than assigning the entire role to one replacement.
Jarrett Allen remains out as Cavs weigh frontcourt options
Allen’s absence follows the knee injury that ended his night against Oklahoma City on Wednesday. His early reassurance did not amount to clearance to play, and Saturday’s designation keeps the frontcourt adjustment in place.
Mobley scored 22 points, Bryant added 13 and Hezonja collected 10 rebounds.
Those contributions offer different pieces of a replacement plan. Mobley can anchor a group at center, Bryant provides another conventional big-man option and Hezonja can help on the glass from a forward spot.
The challenge is arranging those roles across the game, particularly during the minutes Mobley rests.
Atkinson specifically welcomed Hezonja’s rebounding after the Philadelphia game.
“I loved that he had 10 rebounds,” Atkinson said. “That’s where his 250 pounds come in and his nose for the ball.”
That does not establish a change in Hezonja’s starting status. It does identify one contribution Cleveland can seek again while Allen is unavailable: help finishing defensive possessions without relying exclusively on its center.
New York lists Josh Hart out with right ankle soreness. The game is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST at Rocket Arena, with coverage on DAZN-CLE and NBA TV.
