The Cavs will be without the services of David Nwaba and Sam Dekker for Friday night’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings, according to an official NBA injury report.
The fact that the Cavs are ruling Nwaba out one day in advance is a bit surprising, and it likely means he isn’t close to a return. He’s already missed six straight games due to a sore right knee. Larry Nance Jr. and Cedi Osman have seen an up-tick in their usage rate in Nwaba’s absence.
In his 14 appearances with the Cavs this season (three starts), Nwaba has racked up averages of 6.1 points on 42.4 percent shooting from the field (22.7 percent from beyond the arc) and 2.7 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per outing.
Dekker, who’s been dealing with a left ankle injury through the early stages of this season, will also reain on the sidelines for Cleveland. He’s a bit past the 2-4 week timetable that was originally projected, which means the team is likely being cautious with his return.
Dekker has played nine games played with the Cavs, averaging 6.3 points on 45.8 percent shooting from the field (38.5 percent from downtown), 3.7 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 18.8 minutes.
The Cavs are off to a shaky start to this season, as they’re currently holding a 5-19 overall record. Injuries have played a role in their struggles, to be sure. Kevin Love, who signed a four-year, $120 million extension over the summer, remains out with a toe ailment. Some reports are indicating that the five-time All-Star is aiming for a January return.
Friday night’s Cavs-Kings matchup is scheduled to tip inside Quicken Loans Arena at 7:30 p.m. EST with FOX Sports Ohio having live broadcast coverage.
