Cavaliers: Isaac Okoro to return to play Wednesday vs. Magic

Okoro missed the past five games after dealing with a foot sprain while he was also in the COVID-19 health and safety protocol.

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff confirmed that rookie Isaac Okoro will play on Wednesday night against the Orlando Magic after missing the past five games.

Okoro dealt with a left foot sprain while he was also on the COVID-19 health and safety protocol list. He was not listed on the Cavaliers’ injury report for Wednesday after Bickerstaff hinted on Monday that Okoro was close to returning.

Bickerstaff detailed what the Cavaliers missed without Okoro in the lineup.

“The toughness that he brings, the competitive spirit and the small things that he does since he has been gone,” Bickerstaff said on Wednesday morning. “At his age, and to be at his position, to play the style that he plays and have that type of impact is advanced for his age. We’re excited to have him back.”

Okoro, who was the fifth overall pick, started in each of his two games with the Cavaliers this season, averaging 5.5 points, three rebounds and 2.5 assists in 37.5 minutes.

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Cavs’ Isaac Okoro no longer in COVID-19 health and safety protocol

After missing the past four games, the fifth overall pick appears to be close to returning to the court.

Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Isaac Okoro has joined the team in Orlando ahead of two road games starting on Monday against the Magic, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said.

Okoro has missed the past four games due to a left foot sprain while he was also on the COVID-19 health and safety protocol list. He is now listed as questionable to play on Monday with a left foot sprain after the team removed the health and safety protocol designation from the injury report.

Bickerstaff said the Cavaliers have an update to make on Okoro but decided against revealing that information prior to the contest, according to Kelsey Russo of The Athletic.

Okoro, who was the fifth overall pick, started in each of his two games with the Cavaliers this season, averaging 5.5 points, three rebounds and 2.5 assists in 37.5 minutes.

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Cavs vs. Pacers: Isaac Okoro to miss third straight game on Thursday

Okoro will miss his straight game on Thursday as the Cavaliers begin a six-game road trip beginning with the Pacers.

Isaac Okoro will miss his straight game on Thursday as the Cleveland Cavaliers begin a six-game road trip starting with the Indiana Pacers, according to the official NBA injury report.

Okoro initially suffered a left foot sprain on Saturday versus the Detroit Pistons and did not play in the past two games with the Cavaliers. He was also placed on the COVID-19 health and safety protocols list this week and will need to be cleared in order to return to the court.

The Cavaliers added the health and safety protocols designation to the injury report on Tuesday but have not offered further details due to medical privacy laws. On Wednesday, the NBA announced that no new players tested positive for the coronavirus so Okoro likely came in close contact with it.

Okoro, who was the fifth overall pick, started in each of his two games with the Cavaliers this season, averaging 5.5 points, three rebounds and 2.5 assists in 37.5 minutes.

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Cavaliers’ Isaac Okoro to sit Tuesday due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols

The Cavaliers rookie is also dealing with a left foot sprain that forced him to sit on Sunday versus the 76ers.

Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Isaac Okoro will not play on Tuesday versus the New York Knicks due to a left foot sprain and the health and safety protocols related to the coronavirus, according to the team.

Okoro did not play on Sunday due to the foot injury, which was suffered on Saturday against the Detroit Pistons. He went scoreless during that contest in 42 minutes of action while recording three rebounds and one steal.

The Cavaliers added the health and safety protocols designation to the injury report on Tuesday but did not offer additional details due to medical privacy laws. The update doesn’t necessarily mean Okoro tested positive for the coronavirus, but he could have come in close contact with it.

Okoro, who was the fifth overall pick, started in each of his two games with the Cavaliers this season, averaging 5.5 points, three rebounds and 2.5 assists in 37.5 minutes.

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NBA predictions: Our picks for All-League teams

HoopsHype predicts all of the All-NBA squads for the 2020-21 season, including the All-Defense and All-Rookie honorees as well.

As we get closer and closer to the upcoming 2020-21 season, HoopsHype decided to make predictions for the All-NBA squads – including rookies and defensive players.

As the league does it, for each group, HoopsHype writers were allowed to pick one big man, two forwards and two guards. These were the results:

Cavaliers’ Isaac Okoro hits game-winner in NBA debut vs. Pacers

Okoro made a defensive stop and then converted a difficult layup in transition to send the Cavaliers to a win over the Pacers on Saturday.

Isaac Okoro tallied 18 points in his NBA preseason debut, including the go-ahead basket with 0.3 seconds left to send the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 107-104 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night.

To set up the opportunity, Okoro was matched up on Pacers guard TJ McConnell on defense with the score tied up at 104 points apiece. Once Okoro forced the stop, he immediately sprinted down the court and was hit by teammate Damyean Dotson in transition to finish the tough layup.

Okoro was fouled on the play and sank the free throw to make it a three-point game. On the other end, the Pacers were unable to get a clean shot off in time and the Cavaliers held on to win the game as time expired.

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Okoro erupted for 16 points alone in the fourth quarter to help the Cavaliers erase an 11-point deficit. He went a perfect 3-of-3 from 3-point range in the final period while he sank all four of his free-throw attempts to cap off an incredible debut game.

The fifth overall pick earned the start and finished the contest by shooting 6-of-9 from the field, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range, while he added three steals in 32 minutes. He turned in the best performance yet of the preseason by a rookie and it resulted in a win for his team.

Cleveland returns to action on Monday vs. the Pacers once again.

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Cavaliers sign No. 5 pick Isaac Okoro to rookie-scale contract

Cleveland announced that they have signed first-round pick Isaac Okoro to his rookie-scale contract.

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On Saturday, the Cleveland Cavaliers announced that they have signed Auburn Tigers forward Isaac Okoro to his rookie-scale contract as the fifth overall pick in the NBA draft.

Okoro will earn $5,334,100 next season as the fifth overall pick.

The 19-year-old drew interest from a few teams near the top of the draft before the Cavaliers ultimately selected him on Wednesday. Okoro was said to have even received a draft promise from a team following a strong showing in interviews.

Okoro was named to the All-SEC Second Team after averaging 12.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and two assists. He is considered to be one of the best defensive players in the draft and projects to be a strong offensive player inside of the paint.

The Cavaliers finished last in defense during the 2019-20 season, allowing 114.8 points per 100 possessions, and figure to get a huge boost on that end of the floor with the addition of Okoro.

Okoro will wear the No. 35 with the Cavaliers.

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The 10 betting favorites to win 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year

The 10 betting favorites to win 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year

The 10 odds-on favorites to win 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year

The 10 odds-on favorites to win 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year

WATCH: Isaac Okoro surprises parents with new car

After being selected fifth overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Isaac Okoro surprised his parents with a new car.

Isaac Okoro was selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, but it wasn’t the only surprise of the night for his family.

Soon after the former Auburn star found out where he would be playing, he surprised his parents with a new Range Rover.