Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said center Jarrett Allen participated in some parts of practice, according to multiple sources. Guard Donovan Mitchell’s ankle does not seem to be an issue after he turned it on Tuesday’s 120-118 win by the Atlanta Hawks, ESPN Cleveland Cavs reporter Danny Cunningham wrote in a Thursday tweet.
Forward Isaac Okoro was not able to participate in practice.
Donovan Mitchell finished the night with 44 points against the Hawks, making 15 of his 33 shot attempts as he took confident pull-up shots from the top of the 3-point arc or inside the paint. He took the time to deliver a heartfelt message to his former coach in now-Hawks head coach Quin Snyder following the loss in State Farm Arena.
“I owe him a lot,” Donovan Mitchell said. “I’m forever grateful of Quin Snyder. He’s a hell of a coach and is going to have a lot of success here in Atlanta.
“He’s a guy that literally gave me the ball and trusted in me, in a 20-year-old, 21-year-old who didn’t prove anything yet, just went out there and tried to continue to climb. When you have someone like that who trusts you, I’m forever grateful. And he really helped me get to be the player that I am today.”
On Friday, the Cavs will face off against a potential playoff matchup in the New York Knicks. Cleveland is fourth in the Eastern Conference, while New York is four games behind them at fifth.
Four players were listed on the injury report for the Knicks. Guard Derrick Rose, forward Julius Randle and guard DaQuan Jeffries were listed as “day-to-day,” while guard Duane Washington Jr. was listed as “out.”
The Cavs will tip off against the New York Knicks at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Friday in Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. The game will be broadcasted on Bally Sports Ohio.