CLEVELAND — In a notable matchup on Wednesday night, several key players were sidelined due to injuries, impacting both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New Orleans Pelicans. Among those ruled out were Cavaliers guard Darius Garland and Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram, highlighting the significant roster adjustments both teams had to make.
Garland, dealing with soreness in his left groin, has been a central figure for Cleveland, starting in all 16 games prior to this one. The Cavaliers entered the game with an impressive record of 15-1, currently leading the NBA. Cleveland’s impressive franchise-record winning streak came to an end just a day earlier against the Boston Celtics, where they narrowly lost 120-117, with Garland struggling significantly, hitting only 3 of 21 field-goal attempts in that game.
The Cavaliers are also missing other crucial players, including Caris LeVert, who is nursing inflammation in his left knee, Isaac Okoro with a left ankle strain, Sam Merrill experiencing soreness in his left ankle, plus Dean Wade and Max Strus, both affected by right and left ankle sprains, respectively.
Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson expressed confidence in his team’s depth, stating, “It tests our depth, but personally, I like games like this because it also tests your roster. With 17 games in 29 days and the league playing faster, I don’t know how these guys do it.”
On the other side, Brandon Ingram, who has been averaging 23.2 points per game, was ruled out with a bilateral ankle sprain after participating significantly in the Pelicans’ previous game, where they suffered a heavy loss to the Dallas Mavericks, 132-91. This marked Ingram’s first absence of the season.
New Orleans faced further challenges as their top six scorers were unavailable for the game in Cleveland. This included notable starters like Zion Williamson (left hamstring strain), CJ McCollum (right adductor strain), and Trey Murphy III (right hamstring).
Pelicans coach Willie Green commented positively about the situation, reassured about Ingram’s condition, and emphasized the decision to rest him was reasonable considering his workload. “We believe Brandon will be fine, but given the circumstances and the minutes he played last night, this was a decision we came to. This is an opportunity for guys who usually wouldn’t be on the floor to get some time,” he said.
Overall, both teams had to adapt quickly as they navigated through injury challenges, setting the stage for a unique encounter.