CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Evan Mobley could be closer to returning to the Cavaliers than head coach J.B. Bickerstaff let on Sunday evening.
Mobley joined the team on their trip to Orlando but he will not play against the Magic.
The Cavs posted a picture of Mobley boarding their charter flight Monday afternoon on their social media accounts but he is listed out and will miss his fifth consecutive game Tuesday.
Mobley, who has missed the last four games after suffering a left ankle sprain in the second quarter of a win over the Magic on March 28, did not travel last week to Atlanta or New York to remain home and rehab the injury.
Mobley has not been wearing a walking boot, and he was seeing walking without a limp at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse Sunday.
Selected third overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, Mobley is a rookie of the year candidate that is averaging 14.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.6 blocks and just under a steal per game in 67 games this season.
Veteran guard Rajon Rondo returned from a sprained right ankle Sunday in a loss to the 76ers tat saw him play over 14 minutes and score six points off a pair of 3-point makes.
As for All-Star center Jarrett Allen, his finger remains in a splint, and it remains unclear when he will return, but Bickerstaff said Sunday that Allen has been ramping up his conditioning.
Allen also made the trip.
The 43-36 Cavs play the Magic Tuesday night and are 2.5 games behind 45-33 Toronto and Chicago with three games to play for the sixth seed and automatic playoff berth.
