Team Profile
Cleveland Cavaliers
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120.0 1stOffensive Rating
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106.9 25thDefensive Rating
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13.1 1stNet Rating
2024 Team Stats
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Points per game121.8 1st
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Points per game Against110.1 6th
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Rebounds per game41.8 7th
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Assists per game28.2 1st
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (illness) won't play on Thursday against the Magic. He did participate in shootaround on Thursday morning, so that's a good thing regarding his health. However, the 27-year-old will get the night off to rest. Isaac Okoro, averaging 10.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 24 starts this season, will fill the void in the lineup left by Mitchell's absence. Of course, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, and Darius Garland are the guys who may benefit the most.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (illness) is currently listed as questionable for the team's upcoming game against the Orlando Magic tomorrow. Despite playing 14 minutes and scoring 16 points in the All-Star Game, the 27-year-old might sit out Cleveland's first game after the break due to illness. Should Mitchell be unable to play, Caris LeVert is expected to see a significant increase in minutes, while Darius Garland is likely to experience a notable uptick in usage. Mitchell has been averaging 28.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.3 assists in 35.5 minutes per game this season.
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff says center Evan Mobley (knee) is no longer on a minutes restriction. Following mid-December arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, Mobley missed a month and half of action but has averaged 15.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 1.9 combined steals plus blocks in 25.8 minutes during nine games since Jan. 29 while notching third-round fantasy value in nine-category leagues across this stretch. The 22-year-old star big man draws a tough matchup against the Orlando Magic on Thursday, and despite this clash pitting two top-five defenses against each other, he will be worthy of DFS attention with a sub-$7,000 salary on DraftKings.
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff says guard Darius Garland (jaw) is no longer on a minutes restriction. Garland spent a month and a half on the shelf between December and January with a fractured jaw, and the 24-year-old All-Star is averaging just 12.7 points, 6.0 assists, and 1.3 threes in 26.9 minutes over his last nine games since returning. Garland next gets the Orlando Magic, and although the matchup features the lowest implied point total (216.5) on Thursday's 12-game slate, he will be a DraftKings value option with his salary south of $6,000 for the first time this year.
According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff isn't expected to make any changes to the starting lineup. Although nearly everyone in the first five is a lock to retain their roles, forward Max Strus has been mentioned as someone who could head back to the bench. However, Strus has played relatively well in his 53 games this season, all starts, averaging a career-high 12.2 points. The 27-year-old still has more work to do pertaining to his consistency on the scoring end. But he's capable of knocking down shots from behind the arc, and the attention he receives from opposing defenses enables others to get open. That said, Strus arguably has a place in all fantasy lineups, especially if he remains starting. Unfortunately, fantasy managers shouldn't expect routine production.