Cavs to Rest Key Players in Rematch with Hawks

Cleveland will be without Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Sam Merrill for Friday's game.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 2:21am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a basketball game, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape, conveying the intensity and strategic complexity of the matchup between the two teams.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes rematch between the injury-depleted Cavaliers and the healthy Hawks.Cleveland Today

The Cleveland Cavaliers will be resting several key players, including Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Sam Merrill, for their Friday rematch against the Atlanta Hawks. This is part of the team's strategy to manage injuries and get players healthy ahead of the playoffs, with Thomas Bryant also out due to a left calf strain.

Why it matters

The Cavaliers are balancing the need to get their full roster playing time together before the playoffs, while also prioritizing player health and recovery. Resting these starters is a prudent move to ensure the team is as healthy as possible for the postseason push.

The details

The Cavaliers will be without the services of Donovan Mitchell (right ankle injury management), Jarrett Allen (right knee injury management), and Sam Merrill (left hamstring injury management) for Friday's game against the Hawks. This comes after the team played all available players in their previous matchup on Wednesday, which was less significant in the standings.

  • The Cavaliers will face the Hawks on Friday, April 10, 2026.
  • Jaylon Tyson has been upgraded to questionable and could make his return to the lineup on Friday.

The players

Donovan Mitchell

A star player for the Cleveland Cavaliers who is being rested due to a right ankle injury.

Jarrett Allen

The Cavaliers' starting center who is being rested due to a right knee injury, as he has been playing through pain recently.

Sam Merrill

A Cavaliers player who is being held out due to a left hamstring injury.

Thomas Bryant

A Cavaliers player who will miss the game due to a left calf strain.

Jaylon Tyson

A Cavaliers player who has been upgraded to questionable and could make his return to the lineup on Friday.

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What they’re saying

“No one is 100% at this time of the season, but it is fair to point out that Allen and Merrill have been playing through injuries recently.”

— Jackson Flickinger, Author

“Allen hasn't looked like himself since returning to the lineup from a knee injury that kept him out for a few weeks. He mentioned after his return to the lineup from that injury that he was playing through some pain. Given how important he is to the Cavs' playoff ceiling, it would make sense to rest him until the playoffs begin next weekend.”

— Jackson Flickinger, Author

What’s next

The Cavaliers will need to monitor the progress of the injured players and determine if they will be ready to return for the start of the playoffs next weekend.

The takeaway

The Cavaliers are prioritizing player health and recovery over the short-term goal of winning this particular game, which is a prudent strategy as they prepare for a deep playoff run.