Isaac Okoro could miss Cavs vs. Hornets

Okoro is questionable with a left knee contusion.

The Cleveland Cavaliers could be without one of their starters on Saturday afternoon when they take on the Charlotte Hornets at 1 PM. Isaac Okoro is listed as questionable on the injury report with a left knee contusion. That was the same injury that caused him to miss the second half of Thursday’s game against the Denver Nuggets.

Head coach Kenny Atkinson wasn’t too concerned about Okoro’s injury after Thursday’s victory.

“He told me it’s nothing important,” Atkinson said about Okoro’s injury. “I think it’ll be alright.”

Dean Wade replaced Okoro when the starting unit took the floor in the second half against Denver. If Okoro can’t go, Wade would presumably step into that role again. The Cavs have been winning with depth all season, they will try to do that again on Saturday and Sunday.

“I felt like we wore them down with our depth,” Atkinson said about the win over the Nuggets. “Isaac goes out and it’s like, ‘Okay, throw Dean Wade in there.’ And you know, we just have incredible depth. We got great balance. I thought our core four was really phenomenal tonight. We got a real complete team, one through 18. It’s a pleasure to coach a group like this.”

It doesn’t seem like Okoro will be out long if he does miss Saturday’s game. On the season, he’s averaging 6 points and 2.3 rebounds on .479/.463/.647 shooting splits in 21 games. He missed two games earlier this season with a left ankle injury.

Craig Porter Jr. will not be available on Saturday due to an illness. Max Strus and Emoni Bates remain out as well.

The Hornets will be without their best player, LaMelo Ball who’s missing with a left calf strain.