Cavs’ Ty Jerome to miss third straight game with bothersome knee

Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson indicated that Ty Jerome‘s knee issue doesn’t appear to be anything serious, but Jerome is missing his third straight game nonetheless.

The Cavs (59-15) will host the Los Angeles Clippers (42-31) Sunday at 3:30 p.m. EST. Rookie wing Jaylon Tyson is also out again with a left knee bone bruise. No other Cavs regulars are listed on the injury report.

Jerome’s injury was officially changed from “left knee soreness” to “left knee tendinitis.” The latter could be considered a little more worrisome — though again, it is likely something that just needs extra rest.

Jerome is having a career season and is considered by many to be in the running for NBA Sixth Man of the Year honors. In 67 games, he’s averaging career-highs of 12.2 points, 50.9 percent shooting, 43.1 percent shooting on 3-pointers, and 1.1 steals.

The Cavaliers enter the afternoon four games ahead of the reigning champion Boston Celtics (55-19) for the first seed in the Eastern Conference, with eight to go. Boston has won eight straight while Cleveland is 5-5 in its last 10.

There have been some suggestions that the Cavs are utterly exhausted while in the midst of a schedule that has taken them all over the place — as they haven’t played back-to-back games in the same city in over a month. That will change this week, as their next game isn’t until Wednesday, vs. the New York Knicks, also at home.

“There are still [eight] games left,” Atkinson said after Friday’s road loss to the Pistons. “I trust our body of work. I trust the guys. I do think we need to get home and collect ourselves a little bit, sleep in our beds and get back in our routine and actually practice or have a shootaround. I think that’ll help.”

As an aside, Clippers star Kawhi Leonard will also miss Sunday’s game. The injury is listed as right knee management.

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