CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Cavaliers center Andre Drummond has been scratched from Wednesday’s lineup because of a calf strain that’s been bothering him since the weekend.
Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff referred to Drummond as "day-to-day” ahead of tipoff against Philadelphia.
“I will talk to the training staff after tonight. He went and got it looked at today. We will figure it out," Bickerstaff said. "He talked about it in Miami. He raised (the issue) then with our training staff and I guess it tightened up on him so he couldn’t go tonight.”
Tristan Thompson will start in Drummond’s place. Ante Zizic, Cleveland’s swing center, could play more minutes to help combat Philadelphia’s burly frontcourt led by All-Star Joel Embiid.
Drummond, who didn’t play during the Cavaliers’ massive fourth-quarter comeback on Monday night, wasn’t present at shootaround Wednesday morning when media entered. Typically, Drummond goes through shooting drills alongside Thompson and Larry Nance Jr. Bickerstaff admitted on Wednesday night that coming from Detroit has been tough for Drummond -- a two-time All-Star and the league leader in rebounds at the time of his trade.
In five games with the Cavs, he is averaging 12.8 points and 10.4 rebounds.
“Make sure that we keep communicating with one another," Bickerstaff said. “I understand how difficult it is being in his position. It’s tough when you have been one place so long, used a certain way, played with a group of guys for so long and then come into a situation like this where there is so much that’s new and having to learn to play with the guys around you, it’s difficult, especially for big guys because you are so dependent on everyone else to get you the involved. Then you throw in the bigger change and it’s even more difficult. It’s tough, but his attitude has been really good. There’s moments of frustration, but he hasn’t let it impact him in a negative way.”
Meanwhile, backup guard Dante Exum, who exited Monday’s game with a sprained ankle, will miss an “extended period of time.”
According to Bickerstaff, Exum was using a crutch to get around Wednesday morning and there’s still some swelling in his ankle. Matthew Dellavedova will slide into Exum’s spot in the rotation.