Cavs catch a break on injury report entering rematch with Thunder

The Cavaliers have spent much of the season juggling injuries and rotations. On Sunday, they finally get to be the healthier team.

That matters, because the Thunder will be severely shorthanded when the Cavs pay their lone visit of the season (1 p.m. EST).

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is out with an abdominal strain and won’t be re-evaluated until next week. Jalen Williams is also sidelined with a hamstring issue, removing the Thunder’s top two scoring threats.

Oklahoma City will also be without Alex Caruso and Ajay Mitchell, thinning out an already stressed rotation.

The Cavs, meanwhile, enter in far better shape. Max Strus remains out with a foot injury, but Evan Mobley was rested Friday and is expected to be available. That’s about as clean as the Cavs’ injury report has looked in a while.

None of this makes it easy. The Thunder still defend at a high level behind Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, with Luguentz Dort and Cason Wallace setting the tone on the perimeter. Dort, in particular, has made life uncomfortable for Donovan Mitchell in recent meetings.

The Thunder won’t have much shot creation without their stars, but newcomer Jared McCain adds speed and scoring punch off the bench. This favors Cleveland. It just won’t feel comfortable doing it.