Cavs rest top players vs. Wizards so they can play upcoming games with LeBron
Apologies to anyone who paid to watch the Cleveland Cavaliers play in the nation's capital.
The team announced that at least nine players will not suit up in Sunday's preseason affair against the Washington Wizards, with the following injury report:
- LeBron James (Left ankle, Out)
- Iman Shumpert (Left foot, Out)
- Isaiah Thomas (Right hip, Out)
- Cedi Osman (Low back, Questionable)
- Derrick Rose (Rest, Out)
- Dwyane Wade (Rest, Out)
- J.R. Smith (Rest, Out)
- Jae Crowder (Rest, Out)
- Kevin Love (Rest, Out)
- Tristan Thompson (Rest, Out)
It'll be the third contest James has sat out while nursing a minor ankle injury, and he's expected to return for the final two preseason games.
"None of the guys have played with LeBron yet, so that will try to give the guys a chance to try and find a rhythm going into the season," head coach Tyronn Lue said, as quoted by Cleveland.com's Joe Vardon.
"Kind of a different way than I wanted to do it, but didn't expect LeBron to get hurt in training camp. This way they can miss this game and come back and play the last two and try to get in a little rhythm with Bron."
Lue said Kay Felder, Kyle Korver, Jeff Green, Cedi Osman, and Ante Zizic will start in the matinee at Capital One Arena.
Cleveland is 0-2 in exhibition play, and will host the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday and visit the Orlando Magic on Friday.