Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley won't join the team on its road trip. David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Cavaliers standout rookie Evan Mobley out at least three games with sprained ankle

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 3/30/22

One of the hardest hit teams by the injury bug this season in the NBA has been the Cleveland Cavaliers. Things aren't getting any easier for Cleveland with the regular season winding down. The Cavs announced Wednesday afternoon that they'll be without their leading Rookie of the Year candidate for at least the next few games.

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— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) March 30, 2022

Mobley suffered the ankle injury during Monday's home win against the Orlando Magic. The Cavaliers are in good position to end their four-year playoff drought this spring but are in danger of facing the daunting task of competing in the play-in tournament.

Cleveland enters Wednesday night's game against the Dallas Mavericks in seventh place in the Eastern Conference at 42-33 and has seven contests left in the regular season. The top six seeds in each conference earn automatic spots in the first round of the postseason, while the seventh-, eighth-, ninth- and 10th-place finishers will take part in the double-elimination play-in tournament.

The 2021 third overall pick, Mobley has missed only eight games all season — four due to an elbow sprain suffered in November and four more while in the COVID-19 protocols in December — but, when healthy, has been a force on offense, defense and the glass. The former USC Trojan has averaged 14.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.6 blocks and 33.9 minutes per game across 67 contests (all starts) this season.

Mobley has shot 50.6% from the field and 66.4% from the free throw line and earned the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month Award for November.

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