Cavs Notes: Isaac Okoro, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley

Cavaliers small forward Isaac Okoro could miss time during the playoffs. A game, a couple of games, a series.

Or maybe no time at all. The Cavs don’t seem to know right now.

Okoro has been the starter for most of the season, at least during the second half. He has been out with a sore left knee for three straight games.

Sources told Hoops Wire the Cavs are hopeful he can play in Sunday’s regular-season finale vs. the Hornets, if even briefly, but that is very much up in the air.

There’s also the expectation the Cavs will have secured the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference by that game — so Okoro and other starters may not play in that game even if healthy. 

On the bright side for the Cavs, Caris LeVert has filled in more than admirably, and even when Okoro is healthy, LeVert is the more promising postseason player. Dean Wade, of course, has been starting. But Okoro offers hustle, defense and can score when opponents forget he’s out there — focusing instead on the Cavs’ Big Four of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.

So, yes, the Cavs would like Okoro back soon. But again, that seems to be a day-to-day sort of thing.

“If Isaac doesn’t play, it’s because he’s in real discomfort,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters. “We’ve got to make sure we’re taking the steps to get him to a place of comfort and safety. That’s more important. It’s something we’re just monitoring every day and hopefully he continues to improve.”

• Mitchell is the first player in Cavs history to record three straight games of 40 or more points — and also his 12th of the season, tying him with Walt Bellamy (1959-60) for second-most 40-point games with a new team. Wilt Chamberlain is first (32). No one is ever catching him.
• Mobley has been a double-double machine lately, averaging 18.6 points and 12.2 rebounds in the past five games (entering Tuesday night). As impressively, he’s been blocking a whopping 3.6 shots in that span. He also has committed exactly zero turnovers in four of the last five.
• I discussed all things Cavs on Sports 4 CLE on Cleveland.com. You can check it out right here (at about the 40-minute mark).