De’Andre Hunter Injury Update
De’Andre Hunter gave Cavs fans a quick heart flutter last night. In what was supposed to be a chill preseason closer against the Detroit Pistons, the new-look forward didn’t come back out for the second half. Turns out, he banged up his knee in the first half. He looked great before leaving, too, 14 points in just 14 minutes, shooting an efficient 3-of-6 from the floor, with a couple of threes and some nice rhythm alongside Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley.
SleeperCavs reported on X that DeAndre Hunter has been diagnosed with a right knee contusion and will not play for the rest of the night, according to Chris Fedor. Hunter's absence in the second half is a precautionary measure.
Leah Doherty reported on X that De'Andre Hunter of the #Cavs took a hard hit to the knee and was held out of the second half as a precaution.
Hunter won't return to Tuesday's preseason game against the Pistons due to a right knee contusion, Chris Fedor of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. Thankfully, that sounds way less scary than anything structural. The Cavs are calling it precautionary, and honestly, that tracks. There’s just no reason to push a guy who’s already proven himself when the real stuff starts next week.
This preseason, Hunter’s looked like exactly what Cleveland’s been hoping for: a steady two-way wing who doesn’t force the issue and brings clean, efficient scoring. Sliding him into the starting lineup feels like one of those moves that just… works. He’s simplified his game, cut out the fluff, and it’s paying off. You can already see how comfortable he looks sharing the floor with the big dogs.
For now, the vibe around Cleveland seems cautiously optimistic. A knee contusion isn’t ideal, but it’s not time to panic either. With a week until the opener in New York against the Knicks, there’s still plenty of time for Hunter to rest, ice, and be ready to roll. The Cavs need him not just to be healthy but also confident, if they want that wing depth to really shine this season. Here’s hoping this little scare is nothing more than that.
