The Cleveland Cavaliers are heading into Monday night’s matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder carrying a crowded injury report, and that’s before you even get to the Thunder’s own absences.
Oklahoma City will be down three starters, with Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Chet Holmgren all out. The Thunder also listed Alex Caruso, Nikola Topic and Thomas Sorber as out.
Cleveland’s side brings its own questions. Danny Cunningham of Locked On Cavs reported two updates to the team’s injury report: Jaylon Tyson will miss a second straight game because of a right ankle sprain, while Peyton Watson is questionable with right hamstring tightness.
#Cavs say Jaylon Tyson (right ankle sprain) is out tomorrow against OKC. Peyton Watson (right hamstring tightness) is questionable.
Tyson’s absence matters because Cleveland is already dealing with other missing pieces, including Nae’Qwan Tomlin, who continues to sit with a back issue. If Watson can’t go, it would be his first missed game of 2026-27.
The Cavaliers didn’t seem to miss Tyson much in the Milwaukee game, largely because Mario Hezonja stepped in and delivered. He finished with 11 rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench and looked as sharp as he has all season.
He said he credits Kenny Atkinson and the staff for his resurgence. Meleek Thomas also kept rolling, scoring in double figures for a third straight game to start his career, while Sam Merrill has started to build some confidence.
Mario Hezonja vs the Bucks pic.twitter.com/eSetTBpJbT
With Tyson out, Thomas and Hezonja figure to keep carrying some of the second-unit energy. That bench spark has become more important with Tomlin sidelined.
There’s also a longer-term wrinkle on the roster. Khalifa Diop has yet to make his debut because of knee issues, and even once he’s healthy, there’s no guarantee he cracks the rotation. If Thomas Bryant isn’t getting minutes, it seems unlikely the 2022 second-round pick would suddenly be in the mix.
Cleveland’s upcoming stretch should tell a lot about this group. The Cavaliers have four games coming against title contenders, starting with two against the Thunder and then matchups with the Sixers and Knicks. For a short-handed team, it’s a chance to show what it can do.
In Other News...
Cavs Could Face A Lineup Twist Against Short-Handed Thunder
The Cavaliers may be looking at a slightly different rotation when they meet the short-handed Thunder, and the ripple effect starts on the wing. Oklahoma City will again be without Alex Caruso, who has been ruled out for a second straight game after suffering an ankle sprain against the Suns, leaving one fewer defensive piece in the matchup.
Cleveland has its own lineup question to sort through, with Peyton Watson listed as questionable because of right hamstring soreness. If he cannot go, the Cavs could be forced into a different look on the perimeter, and Mario Hezonja would be in line for a possible first start in a Cleveland uniform. [Read more 🡒]
Darius Garland Is Making The Cavaliers Trade Look Better Again
Early in the 2026-27 season, the Cavaliers decision to move Darius Garland for James Harden is looking better by the week. Garland has struggled to find his footing with the Clippers, and the fit has not been nearly as smooth as Los Angeles hoped when it made the deal. Cleveland, meanwhile, has gotten a steadier version of Harden, who has settled into his role alongside Donovan Mitchell and helped the offense hum in a way that makes the swap look favorable from this side of the ledger.
Garlands rough start has only sharpened the contrast. The Clippers have had trouble keeping things together when he is on the floor, and the ball security issues have been hard to ignore as his new team tries to build around him. For the Cavaliers, the early returns are encouraging enough to keep the trade looking like a win, even if the full verdict still has plenty of season left to be written. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs May Have Found Their Next Wing Fit Around Mitchell And Mobley
The Cavaliers latest roster shuffle brought Peyton Watson into the mix as part of a sprawling multi-team trade that sent Max Strus to the Clippers and left Cleveland with future draft picks as part of the return. It also fits the broader early-season picture around Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, with Mobleys improved shooting giving the offense a cleaner look and making the teams wing choices feel even more important as the rotation settles in.
There is already chatter that Cleveland may not be done looking for another versatile piece on the perimeter, especially one who can complement the group without disrupting what has started to work. With the Cavs still sorting out how best to balance size, shooting and defensive flexibility around their core, any additional move would have to make sense both on the floor and in the bigger roster picture. [Read more 🡒]