The Cleveland Cavaliers are prepared to be without starting forward Lauri Markkanen for a while. Markkanen suffered what is believed to be a high ankle sprain in his right leg.
Markkanen contested a drive by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the second quarter of Cleveland's win over Oklahoma City on Saturday night. Markkanen landed awkwardly and stayed on the floor for a while. Eventually, the big man was helped from the floor.
In his first season with the Cavs, Markkanen has averaged 13.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. His floor-spacing ability has been a key to Cleveland's three-big lineup featuring Jarrett Allen and rookie sensation Evan Mobley.