All-Star big man Evan Mobley has missed the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ last five games due to a Grade 1 left calf strain. He last played on Dec. 12 against the Washington Wizards.
Now, nearly two weeks since his injury, there are questions about his availability. After all, the initial timeline of his recovery was two to four weeks. With the Cavs playing on Christmas Day against the New York Knicks, his status has been a major talking point.
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On Wednesday, the Cavs released their injury report for the game. While Chris Livingston (G League assignment), Luke Travers (G League assignment) Larry Nance Jr. (calf strain) and Max Strus (foot injury) have all been ruled out, Mobley’s status has been upgraded to “Questionable.”
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) dribbles the ball during a game.© David Richard-Imagn Images
It will certainly be interesting to see if Mobley is able to suit up against the Knicks. He’s a key piece for Cleveland, especially with the defensive presence he brings.
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The reigning Defensive Player of the Year is averaging 1.6 blocks and 1.0 steal per game this season. He’s also putting up a career-high 19.1 points, along with 9.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists.
When the Cavs first played the Knicks during their season opener, Mobley also tallied 22 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block.
The Cavaliers enter the showdown with the Knicks riding a two-game winning streak, but prior to that, they lost three straight and appeared to be in trouble.
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Sure enough, Mobley’s potential return would be a big boost to a Cavs team that is 17-14 on the season and looking to climb up from seventh in the Eastern Conference standings.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.