Cavs to be without three key rotation players in Tuesday’s contest against the Nets

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs are going to be without three of their key rotation pieces in Tuesday’s matchup with the Brooklyn Nets at Rocket Arena.

Ty Jerome (rest), De’Andre Hunter (illness) and Donovan Mitchell (groin) will be sidelined after being added to the injury report earlier Tuesday afternoon.

The former Virginia duo have turned into a reliable threat off the bench for the Cavs since the team acquired Hunter ahead of the trade deadline.

In 11 games and 153 minutes on the floor together, the tandem has a net rating of 18.5 points per 100 possessions. Of all Cavs two-man lineups that have played at least 150 minutes together this season, the net rating of Hunter and Jerome ranks eighth.

When the Cavs have all three players on the floor together, they have an even better net rating.

The three-man lineup boasts a 21.0 points per 100 possessions when on the floor together for 68 minutes this season.

The Cavs have leaned on their depth all season, and with two primary ball handlers unavailable, they will likely lean on Darius Garland and Craig Porter Jr. to shoulder that load while Dean Wade could see more minutes to account for Hunter’s absence.

But any extra minutes for those role players will continue to come off the bench as Isaac Okoro will get the start in place of Mitchell against Brooklyn.

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