Cavaliers vs. Raptors injury report and preview entering NBA playoffs
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Injuries have played a significant role in recent Cavaliers playoff history, so now is a good time to review the health of the roster as the Cavs prepare to battle the Toronto Raptors in the first round.
The fourth-seeded Cavs are tentatively scheduled to practice Wednesday, April 15, through Friday, April 17, before facing the fifth-seeded Raptors in Game 1 of a best-of-seven series on Saturday, April 18, in Cleveland. Tipoff for the Eastern Conference matchup is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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Heading into Cleveland's on-court prep, the injury headlines surrounding the series are Cavs backup center Thomas Bryant (left calf strain) and Raptors starting point guard Immanuel Quickley (right hamstring strain) are question marks for Game 1.
But there is much more injury information available about the Cavs (52-30) and Raptors (46-36), so let's take a deeper dive here:
Cavaliers injury report. Will Cavs big men Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley hold up in NBA playoffs?
Bryant missing the final four regular-season games with a calf strain could prove to be problematic for the Cavs because starting center Jarrett Allen has been dealing with right knee tendonitis, which caused him to miss 10 consecutive games in March, and forward Evan Mobley suffered left calf strains in December and January.
Before the Cavs' regular-season finale against the Washington Wizards on April 12, coach Kenny Atkinson said Bryant is the only player on Cleveland's roster who might miss the start of the playoffs with an injury. "To be determined with him," Atkinson said.
As the regular season ended, the Cavs listed guards Donovan Mitchell (right ankle sprain), Keon Ellis (left knee contusion) and Sam Merrill (left hamstring tightness) and forward Dean Wade (right ankle sprain) as other players who are managing injuries.
It's important to note not all injuries show up on every version of the Cavs' injury report. For example, point guard James Harden suffered a fractured right thumb, and Ellis suffered a fractured left index finger. Harden and Ellis missed little time and played through those injuries after they occurred in February.
It's also worth remembering wings Jaylon Tyson (left big toe bone bruise) and Max Strus (offseason left foot surgery) played in the regular-season finale while working their way back into form.
Raptors injury report. Will Immanuel Quickley's hamstring injury keep him out of Game 1 vs. Cavs?
Quickley exited the Raptors' regular-season finale April 12 against the Brooklyn Nets with right hamstring tightness.
On April 13, the Raptors announced Quickley had undergone medical imaging, leading him to be diagnosed with "a mild hamstring strain." The Raptors described Quickley's status as day to day.
Beginning in late March, Quickley also missed eight games due to right foot plantar fasciitis and another game on April 10 to manage the injury.
Raptors starting wing RJ Barrett (right knee soreness) and forward Collin Murray-Boyles (neck sprain) played in the regular-season finale on April 12 after being idle April 10.
Starting forward Brandon Ingram missed two games (March 23 and 29) with right heel inflammation and sat out April 1 for management of the injury. An All-Star selection this season, Ingram has played in all six games since then.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at [email protected]. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs vs Raptors injury updates for first round of NBA playoffs