De’Andre Hunter did not play in the second half of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ final preseason game against the Detroit Pistons. He suffered a knee injury in the first half. He finished the game with 14 points
in 14 minutes while shooting 3-6 from the floor.
We will find out how severe the injury is later. But it makes sense that the Cavs would err on the side of caution. Hunter had performed well throughout the preseason and doesn’t have much else to gain from playing another half of basketball that doesn’t count. The Cavs would rather keep him fresh for the season opener next week.
Hunter will play an important role in Cleveland this season. He’s been promoted to the starting lineup and is expected to stay there for the regular season. By playing more minutes with players like Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, Hunter has been able to focus on simplifying his game. This has led to hyper-efficient scoring.
The Cavs are the perfect place for Hunter to thrive as a dynamic offensive wing who can complement a defense that isn’t being built around him. He’s been a strong two-way presence during Cleveland’s preseason and should continue to succeed once the real games begin.
Cleveland’s first regular season game will be in New York against the Knicks on October 22.
