The Cleveland Cavaliers might be sitting pretty with the best record in the NBA, but even they cannot avoid the dreaded injury curse. It feels like every team gets their turn, and now it’s hitting the Wine and Gold. Evan Mobley, trying to snag a rebound in the second quarter, landed awkwardly on Kevin Love’s foot. You could almost feel the collective wince from fans as his ankle rolled, leaving the hoopster limping down the court.

Mobley won’t return for the second half of Sunday’s matchup against the Heat after spraining his left ankle, according to Spencer Davies of SI. Before exiting, he contributed 4 points (2-4 FG, 0-1 3P), grabbed 3 rebounds, and snagged a steal in 12 minutes of play.

The Cleveland team revealed that the injury was severe enough to sideline him for the remainder of the game. Mobley will probably undergo additional imaging to assess the full extent of the issue.

Mobley had been playing with growing confidence, especially after dropping a career-high 41 points against the Hornets the day before. He was on fire, hitting six of eight three-pointers and really starting to show off his outside shooting prowess. But, switching back to tonight, when the Cavaliers came out for the second half, Mobley was a no-show.

He had finished the second quarter on the court, so it was definitely a surprise to not see him. His recent performance was starting to elevate the whole team, and fans were hoping to see more of that fire. The timing of his absence is tough, especially after such a promising outing.

A lot of promise, potential All-Star now in doubt- Evan Mobley is injured

Evan Mobley is having a breakout season, and it’s not just lifting the Cavs to the top of the standings, it’s making him a legitimate All-Star contender. Mobley has long been known for his defensive prowess, but this year, he’s become a two-way force in the truest sense.

It’s been a slow burn for Mobley on the offensive side. After a few seasons of steady improvement, he was finally hitting his stride. A week ago, Mobley matched his career-high of three three-pointers in a game against the Denver Nuggets, then went ahead and broke that record just two days later with five triples in the first quarter against Charlotte. With 22 three-pointers already under his belt this season, he’s closing in on his personal best—and it’s not even Christmas yet.

His offensive development is no accident.

Mobley’s shot mechanics have been improving year after year, and his 4% jump in free-throw shooting last season pointed to bigger things. This season, he’s upped his free throw percentage again, hitting 79.6% of his attempts.

Credit goes to new head coach Kenny Atkinson, who’s challenged Evan Mobley to expand his game. The Cavs’ organizational focus on his growth has paid off in spades. He’s now averaging a career-high 21.6 points per 36 minutes, with an increased usage rate and more efficient shot-making.

Mobley is still a dominant defender, but this season, he was proving that he’s an all-around star. And the best part? We’ve only seen the beginning. The worst? We don’t know how long he’ll be out with this injury for now…