J.B. Bickerstaff: Isaac Okoro back for Cavs vs. Knicks in playoffs would be 'a big boost'

CLEVELAND — Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff isn't downplaying the difference starting small forward Isaac Okoro could make for the team in its upcoming first-round NBA playoff series.

It's a sign the Cavs are optimistic Okoro will be able to return from his left knee injury to face the New York Knicks.

The best-of-seven series between the Eastern Conference's fourth-seeded Cavs (51-31) and fifth-seeded Knicks (47-35) will begin with Game 1 at 6 p.m. Saturday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Meanwhile, Okoro was sidelined for the sixth consecutive game when the Cavs fell 106-95 to the Charlotte Hornets (27-55) in the regular-season finale Sunday afternoon. He last played March 26, when the Cavs clinched their first playoff berth since 2018 with a 108-91 victory over the Houston Rockets.

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“It'd be huge for us,” Bickerstaff said Sunday when asked about the possibility of Okoro returning for the playoffs, “especially you watch his matchups defensively and what he's able to do and how he can contain the ball and defeat screens and pick and roll, which you're going to see a bunch of.

“Obviously, we've missed him, and he'd be a big boost to us 'cause there's just so many small things that he does for our team so that other guys just don't have to do it, and he's just willing to do those things over and over again, even though they are so difficult.”

The Cavs had their best regular season since they finished with the same record — 51-31 — in 2016-17.

They closed the 2022-23 regular season with a limited lineup because they had already entered postseason-prep mode. Starters Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley and reserves Ricky Rubio, Dean Wade and Cedi Osman started against the Hornets. Starters Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland and sixth man Caris LeVert sat out. Sam Merrill led the Cavs in scoring with 17 points.

In the 76 games in which Okoro has appeared this season, he's started 46 times. He's averaging 6.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 assist.

But Okoro's status as one of the Cavs' better defenders is more notable.

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Without Okoro, the Cavs lost 130-116 on March 31 to the visiting Knicks, who claimed the regular-season series between the two teams 3-1. Knicks guard Jalen Brunson scored a career-high 48 points.

“The game that Jalen Brunson had put us on high alert, and I think that's a good thing for us to have that appropriate fear of your opponent,” Bickerstaff said. “We'll use it, we'll watch the film, we'll figure it out and we'll be better.”

Stopping Brunson isn't likely. But containing him is more likely with Okoro than not.

“It's one of Isaac's strengths defending a guy like that,” Bickerstaff said. “Obviously, Brunson is a heck of a player. He's extremely talented and has proven to be clutch in the brightest moments.

“But those are the challenges that Isaac accepts and he loves. Without getting into too much of it, it's one of those matchups where Isaac looks forward to and has an ability to get the job done.”

Bickerstaff has characterized Okoro as "day to day," but it sounds like he'll have a chance to get the job done against the Knicks.

"That'd be a big lift," Mobley said. "He plays great defense. His presence on the defensive side is great for us, especially on the ball, making it difficult for guards, and then also offensively hitting corner 3s and slashing, rebounding."

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Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Isaac Okoro return would give Cavs a boost in NBA playoffs vs. Knicks