Cavs notes: Starting lineup crushed by injuries

CLEVELAND — Short-handed is an understatement. The Cavaliers were missing four starters and one of their top reserves on Friday in their NBA Cup matchup with the Toronto Raptors. Center Jarrett Allen broke the ring finger on his left hand in the Boston game on Friday and missed his first game since May 15, 2024 — a string of 96 consecutive games. During warmups in Boston, teammate Dean Wade made a jump shot. When Allen went to catch the ball his finger broke. "It was a freak thing," Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said. "It swished ... and hit his finger. It's one of those things. "We were a picture of health last year. That was a big reason we won 64 games." Atkinson said Allen "couldn't catch the ball." The center wasn't the only front-line player missing. Leading scorer Donovan Mitchell, who is averaging 28.0 points, was sidelined with left hamstring tightness. Shooting guard Sam Merrill has a bruised hip, while point guard Darius Garland (toe surgery) and swingman Max Strus (foot surgery) remain out of the lineup. Garland appears very close to making his season debut. He recently scrimmaged with the G League Cleveland Charge. "He's had no setbacks," Atkinson said. "His basketball is a little off right now. Our No. 1 priority is getting him back on the court." REBOUNDING WOES The Cavs have been outrebounded in four of their first five games. "Rebounding is definitely a big focus tonight," Cleveland power forward Evan Mobley said. "We have to come up with them somehow. We were doing the right techniques (against the Celtics). We have to come up with (them) at the end of the day." Swingman Jaylon Tyson said the Cavs must improve the "mental aspect of rebounding." "When we lock in on anything we're told to do, we do it," he said. IMPRESSING COACHES Atkinson said Tyson is "executing to a 'T' what we want from a role player." "I will rock with him every day of the week," Atkinson said. "I'll put (Craig Porter Jr.) in the same bucket. We are discovering things (about this team)." Mobley said he likes what he's seen of Tyson. "He's getting more and more confident," he said. "He's shooting the ball well. He's figuring out his role, whether he's going to cut or screen." Tyson, a second-year pro out of California, has started four games this season. "I prayed for it," he said. "I'm blessed to have this role right now. I'm learning day by day." Tyson loves guarding the opposing team's best offensive threats. "I never used to play defense," he said. "Now that I'm starting to do it, it's kind of fun. If I can frustrate their best player, that's going to give us an edge. I found out that will get me on the court. Fine, I'll do it." Contact Bob Finnan at rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on X.