TORONTO — Some members of the Cavs didn’t bother making the trip across the border.
Darius Garland (injury management), De’Andre Hunter (rest), Max Strus (foot surgery recovery), Sam Merrill (sprained hand), Craig Porter Jr. (hamstring) and Jarrett Allen (strained finger) are all out Monday night against the Toronto Raptors. Dean Wade (hyperextended knee) is listed as questionable.
A source told cleveland.com it would be a surprise to see Wade in the lineup after a knee-to-knee collision with Los Angeles Clippers forward Nicola Batum during Sunday’s 120-105 victory. However, Wade did fly to Toronto with the team, giving him an outside chance of suiting up.
For the heavy-legged Cavaliers, Monday is the second game of a back-to-back and third in four nights. Despite being fined earlier this month for violating the league’s Player Participation Policy, Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said he wouldn’t change his approach to rest, choosing instead to stick with a big-picture plan to prioritize health and management during what has been an unrelenting schedule at the start of 2025-26.
Following Monday’s matchup with the Raptors, already the fourth different back-to-back set, Cleveland will finally get a break. There are three days off before traveling to Atlanta for Friday’s matchup.
Given the number of injuries and rest nights this season, and with the possibility of seven rotational players unavailable against the Raptors, Atkinson could be forced to use his 11th different starting lineup.
Monday is the third — and final — meeting with Toronto this season. The surging Raptors, currently second in the Eastern Conference and riding a seven-game winning streak, have taken the first two games.
