Cavaliers center Khalifa Diop moved from day-to-day to out on Wednesday's injury report with a left knee issue. He is not expected to be available when Cleveland plays at Philadelphia on Thursday.
What happened
Khalifa Diop was listed as out on the injury report Wednesday at 5:18 p.m. ET with a left knee issue. He had been day-to-day. The knee first appeared on Oct. 11, when he was listed day-to-day with the left knee. On Oct. 8 he was day-to-day with an undisclosed issue. Serena Winters of FanDuel Sports Network Ohio reported that Diop would not play in Tuesday's preseason game against the Magic. No diagnosis has been announced.
What it means for the Cavaliers
Cleveland's next game is at Philadelphia on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. The Cavaliers are 0-0 because the 2026-27 season has not started, so there is no record with or without Diop yet. He has no season line on the books. Most of the frontcourt minutes go to Evan Mobley, who averages 31.9 minutes and 18.2 points, and Jarrett Allen, at 27.1 minutes and 15.4 points. Allen is day-to-day with a right knee issue of his own. Sam Merrill is also day-to-day. Nae'Qwan Tomlin is out with a back injury. Donovan Mitchell, at 33.5 minutes and 27.9 points, and James Harden, at 33.8 minutes and 20.5 points, lead the rotation.
What to watch
Watch the next injury report before Thursday's game in Philadelphia. The injury report lists an expected return of Oct. 24, two days after the 76ers game. No other timeline has been announced. Allen's status also matters. He is day-to-day with his own knee issue, and with Diop out, Cleveland has fewer options at center. Merrill is also day-to-day, and Tomlin is still out.
Is Khalifa Diop playing Thursday at the 76ers?
As of Wednesday's injury report, Diop is listed as out with a left knee issue. The Cavaliers play at Philadelphia on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
When will Khalifa Diop be back?
The injury report lists an expected return of Oct. 24. No other timeline has been announced.