Lonzo Ball will suit up for the Cavaliers on Saturday. Cleveland removed him from the injury report for the matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies after he took Thursday off for injury management, a routine off day for the 28-year-old guard, per CBS Sports. With Darius Garland out because of a toe issue and Jaylon Tyson still in concussion protocol, Ball enters the weekend with an opportunity to handle more responsibility in the backcourt.
That extra workload comes after one of Ball’s sharpest performances of the season. Cleveland played without Donovan Mitchell, Garland, Tyson, Max Strus and Evan Mobley on Wednesday night in Miami, yet the Cavaliers produced one of their most complete wins of the year with a 130-116 road victory. Ball helped steer the group, controlling the fourth quarter pace while guiding a 37-19 surge to end the game.
Ball scored 15 points in 20 minutes on 4-of-7 shooting from deep and added eight assists, stabilizing a rotation that continues to shift because of injuries. He joined the Cavaliers during the offseason in the trade that sent Isaac Okoro to the Chicago Bulls, a move that signaled Cleveland’s desire for a guard who could connect the offense more consistently.
Ball explained that his playmaking has always anchored his approach, per Sports Illustrated. “A pass like that is my role on the team,” he said. “It is something I am accustomed to doing.”
Ball’s Passing Continues to Change Cleveland’s Rhythm
Cleveland’s staff and players still adjust to the style he brings. Head coach Kenny Atkinson described how the speed of Ball’s reads creates unfamiliar moments for teammates early in the season. “Even in the half court, a couple times, guys just were not used to him,” Atkinson said. “He does not take a lot of motion. He is not a windup kind of kick ahead passer. He is so strong and sees it early.”
Ball’s vision stood out long before the Heat win. During preseason action, he fired a full-court dart to Dean Wade on a fast break, a pass Wade almost did not shoot because he could not believe how open he stood, The Athletic reports. He caught the ball several steps behind the three-point line, looked around in shock, hesitated and then drained the shot. Cleveland has continued to experience those moments. The front office acquired Ball for exactly that kind of advanced processing, a trait they believed would lift the offense when healthy stars sat or when games demanded more creativity.
Through the early portion of the season, Ball averages 6.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists with shooting splits of 33.3 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from three-point range. His minutes sit at 23.1 per game as he works his way back from multiple years of stop-and-start availability. He started twice, once against Toronto and again in the recent matchup with Miami.
Cleveland Looks to Build Continuity With Ball Back
Cleveland continues to learn the nuances of Ball’s timing, floor balance and transition pushes. The process takes time. The Cavaliers understand that their early-season injuries slow the development curve, yet Ball gives them organization and tempo whenever he checks in. His presence also helps them avoid losing control of possessions when primary scorers rest.
Saturday offers another test of that fit. Memphis enters the matchup with its own rotation challenges, creating a stage where Ball’s playmaking can once again steady the Cavaliers. Cleveland hopes to sharpen its spacing, cut timing and ball movement with Ball back in uniform and ready for extended responsibility.
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