Cleveland Cavaliers vs Dallas Mavericks: preview and player stats (Jan 23, 2027)

Mobley (toe) is out for Friday's game against the Heat. The star big man took a hard fall late in Wednesday's win over the Knicks, and he's missing his first contest of the season Friday with a sprained toe. With Mobley sidelined, Jaylon Tyson, Meleek Thomas and Mario Hezonja are each viable streaming options.

Merrill (elbow) is listed as out for Wednesday's game against the Knicks. Merrill has battled a lingering elbow issue since the preseason. He will now miss a third consecutive contest, with his next opportunity to suit up coming Friday in Miami. While Merrill is sidelined, Craig Porter, Meleek Thomas and Tyrese Proctor should see more minutes.

Tomlin is set to miss several weeks with a lower back stress reaction, Chris Fedor of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. This is a tough blow for the forward and there's no guarantee he's cleared right away when he's re-evaluated in three-to-four weeks. Tomlin wasn't projected to crack the rotation ahead of Opening Night and was penciled in to be an emergency depth option.

Injury/Illness - Right Foot Surgery (2026-11-14, DAL@CLE). Prior reporting (2026-11-11): Lively (foot) is listed as out for Thursday's game in Minnesota. Lively is still working his way back from foot surgery. He's reportedly trending favorably, though he should continue to be classified as week-to-week, at least until the team provides an update. While Lively remains on the shelf, Daniel Gafford is expected to stay in the starting lineup, with Morez Johnson (shin), Santi Aldama and Moussa Cisse all in line to spend time at the five when needed.

Injury/Illness - Left Shin / Tibia Contusion (2026-11-14, DAL@CLE). Prior reporting (2026-11-13): Johnson (left shin contusion) is listed as probable for Saturday against Cleveland. Johnson appears to be trending toward availability after recently missing one game due to the shin injury. The rookie has averaged 6.9 points and 4.8 rebounds in 16.7 minutes per game this season, limiting his appeal to deeper fantasy formats.

Injury/Illness - Left Ankle Sprain (2026-11-14, DAL@CLE). Prior reporting (2026-11-13): Christie is questionable for Saturday's game against the Cavaliers due to a sprained left ankle. Christie is at risk of missing the front end of this back-to-back set with a lingering injury. His absence would result in an uptick in playing time for Zaccharie Risacher and Naji Marshall, which would bolster both players' streaming appeal.

Injury/Illness - Right Thumb Splint (2026-11-14, DAL@CLE).

Injury/Illness - Right Knee Sprain (2026-11-14, DAL@CLE). Prior reporting (2026-11-11): De Larrea (knee) has been ruled out for Thursday's game at Minnesota. De Larrea hasn't played since Oct. 26 due to a right knee sprain, but he's expected to be re-evaluated soon. Still, he can be considered week-to-week until Dallas provides an update on his progress.

Injury/Illness - Right Heel Bursitis (2026-11-14, DAL@CLE). Prior reporting (2026-11-11): Biberovic (heel) is out for Thursday's game against Minnesota. Biberovic remains plagued by right heel bursitis. The rookie forward carries no timetable for his season debut.