Dean Wade and Jaylon Tyson will not accompany the Cavaliers on the three-game road trip that begins March 30 against the Utah Jazz, the team announced March 29 in a news release.
Wade is nursing a sprained right ankle Tyson is dealing with a bruised big toe on his left foot. Both players are staying behind so they can be treated for their injuries with the hope they can get in some regular season games before the playoffs begin on April 18.
Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and now James Harden get most of the attention as members of the Cavaliers’ roster. But Wade has his own important role, especially on a team that at times forgets to play defense.
“I just told the team in the locker room, if we’re going to play defense like this, we’re going to have a short playoff stint,” Atkinson said March 24 after the Cavaliers beat the Orlando Magic, 136-131, in what looked more like a track meet than a basketball game. “Right now, we just have the mentality that we’re just going to outscore people. When it comes playoff time, it isn’t going to be that easy offensively.”
Wade, consistently one of the better defenders on the roster, started the game with the Magic, but he was ineffective. He played 21 minutes, was 1 of 4 from the field and 0-for-2 from 3-point range. He grabbed one rebound.
The ankle injury prevented Wade from playing in home games with the Miami Heat on March 25 and 27. The Cavaliers are 35-22 in games Wade played this season and 11-6 when he doesn’t. Wade has a plus-minus of plus 161, meaning the Cavaliers have outscored opponents by 161 points when Wade has been on the floor this season. He is averaging 5.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in 22.4 minutes a game.
“Dean is kind of the ultimate glue guy,” Atkinson said. “I know that’s the cliche everyone uses, but it’s true. With all the defense, when he makes 3s we’re a tough team to beat. It’s great having an elite stopper you can rely on in big moments.”
The Cavaliers’ Jaylon Tyson drives against the Hawks on Nov. 2. (Tim Phillis – For The News-Herald)
The Cavaliers play the Lakers in Los Angeles on March 31 and the Warriors in San Francisco on April 2 after facing the Jazz. Only five regular-season games will remain when the trip ends. Atkinson does not want to risk any setbacks in Wade’s rehab. The same goes for Tyson.
Tyson, a 6-foot-6 guard in his second season, has missed four games with his toe injury. He has played in 64 games with 40 starts. He is averaging 13.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in 27 minutes a game.
The Cavaliers are 40-24 in games Tyson played this season and 6-4 in games he missed.
Cavaliers at Jazz
When: 9 p.m., March 30
Where: Delta Center, Salt Lake City
Records: Cavaliers 46-28, Jazz 21-54
TV: FanDuel Sports Ohio