Mobley, Hunter at risk of missing Game 2 vs. Pacers
The Cleveland Cavaliers could be without Evan Mobley and De'Andre Hunter in Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday.
Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson revealed Monday that both players are considered questionable after sustaining injuries in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 121-112 loss in Game 1, according to Matthew Glenesk of the Indianapolis Star.
Mobley, the Defensive Player of the Year, hurt his left ankle, while Hunter dislocated his right thumb.
Mobley rolled his ankle after attempting a turnaround hook shot and landing on Myles Turner's foot with 8:10 to play. Hunter was hurt on the Cavs' next offensive possession at the 7:45 mark when his attempt at the rim was blocked by Bennedict Mathurin.
Atkinson, who unsuccessfully challenged the block by Mathurin, said that he felt both instances were borderline reckless plays by the Pacers.
"I don't think they were dirty plays, but I think it passed a line of physicality," the Coach of the Year finalist said. "That line we've kind of been talking about where it became excessive. So, number one was the non-call on De'Andre's layup. ... They reviewed it, and I'm just in shock. I don't know. And I guess I gotta know the rules better. So, maybe I don't know the rules. I felt he got absolutely obliterated and dislocated his thumb, so he'll be questionable.
"And then Evan, around the same time ... Turner contests his 2-point shot, comes under, clearly under him - and shooters need space to land - and is pushed off-balance in kind of our opinion and tweaks his ankle pretty bad. I think you guys saw him limping the rest of the game."
Mobley played a team-high 36 minutes Sunday, shooting 9-of-13 and finishing with a 20-point double-double. Hunter scored 11 points (4-of-8 from the field) with four rebounds and an assist in 30 minutes off the bench. Mobley was swapped out for Jarrett Allen during the review stoppage but returned for the final six minutes. Hunter remained in the game for another four minutes following his thumb injury and entered again with 1:38 to play.
The Cavaliers are already without starting guard Darius Garland, who's now missed three straight games due to a sprained toe. He was initially listed as questionable for Game 1 before being ruled out shortly before tipoff.
Following Tuesday's Game 2 in Cleveland, the series will shift to Indianapolis for Games 3 and 4.