CLEVELAND, Ohio — So much for being healthy again.
The Cavs, riding a two-game winning streak going into Friday night’s game against the undermanned Denver Nuggets, will be without starting small forward Dean Wade, sources tell cleveland.com.
It will be his third absence this season.
Second-year swingman Jaylon Tyson will slide back into the starting lineup.
During Wednesday’s 129-113 win over Phoenix, the 6-foot-9 Wade collided with Suns swingman Jordan Goodwin on a screen and has been dealing with minor knee soreness the last 24 hours.
A late addition to the injury report, listed as questionable going into Friday, the Cavs felt it would be best to give Wade an extra rest night, especially with such a quick turnaround before Sunday’s home matinee with Detroit. A source said Wade should be good to go Sunday.
Sharpshooting reserve Sam Merrill will also be inactive because of a tender ankle.
For Merrill, it’s his 18th injury absence, most of which came because of a sprained right hand in November that sidelined him for about a month.
Wade has started the last nine consecutive games — a quarter-season switch made by Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson to create more starter-reserve balance while also helping Cleveland get back to its defensive roots. In 12 games this season with Wade as starter, the Cavs are 6-6.
Bouncing between starter and reserve, Wade is averaging 5.9 points on 39.5% from the field and 32.3% from 3-point range to go with 4.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists.
