Just when the Cleveland Cavaliers thought they were getting better, they lost their starting small forward to a knee injury.

Isaac Okoro started Thursday night against the Denver Nuggets but did not return for the second half because of what the team called a “left knee contusion.”

It wasn’t entirely clear when Okoro suffered the injury, but he never came out of the locker room in the second half.

Ice had only played 11 minutes and attempted two shots before leaving the game. He did hit one of the threes, but Okoro’s impact didn’t seem to be what he normally contributes.

Okoro missed two games in late November because of a sprained ankle he suffered in the Cavaliers’ win over the Charlotte Hornets. It didn’t look like the injury had any lasting impact on him, so let’s hope this one doesn’t either.

Okoro may not be the Cavaliers’ leading scorer, and he may not be their first option on offense either. He is averaging just 6.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting an efficient 47.8 percent from the floor and 46.2 percent from behind the arc.

However, he provides a crucial defensive presence on the perimeter that Cleveland has missed when he is out.

Post-game update:

Kenny Atkinson gave an encouraging update on Okoro’s status after the game. Atkinson said: “He told me it wasn’t anything major” and didn’t seem at all worried about the injury.

It sounds like Cleveland escaped another injury scare with good news and Okoro will hopefully be back in the lineup on Saturday.