Auburn basketball: Isaac Okoro out as Cavs take on Jared Harper’s Knicks

Two former Auburn basketball stars will have their teams clash tonight as Jared Harper’s New York Knicks travel to Cleveland to take on Isaac Okoro’s Cavaliers.

As we continue to trudge along with this postseason-less 2020-21 Auburn basketball season, the War Eagle is making sure to keep an eye on the Tigers representing the Plains at the professional level. 

With three players–and two first-round selections–making it to the association from Bruce Pearl’s program in the past two years, there are certain dates on the calendar that deserve a big half-blue, half-orange circle around it.

Tonight is one of those nights…or at least it was.

Jared Harper–now donning a less aesthetically pleasing blue and orange–will be suiting up for the New York Knicks as they travel to “the Land” to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Unfortunately, it appears Isaac Okoro will be missing his second straight game with a right foot injury that kept him out of Cleveland’s surprising dismantling of the Philadelphia 76ers.

The first Tiger clash of the season will, unfortunately, be postponed.

Which is a damn shame. The Knicks are riding the high of a shocking 20-point blowout of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks, and a matchup of Okoro and second-year R.J. Barrett on the wing would have been a nice test for the 2020 #overall pick…and perhaps a glimpse into the future of the Eastern Conference.

Instead, there is a distinct possibility that Auburn basketball’s two representatives will be riding the pine. Jared Harper has yet to crack the rotation much for New York, playing just two minutes in the team’s Sunday win over the Bucks–though he could have a chance at seeing minutes with Dennis Smith Jr. not traveling with the team due to a left quad contusion.

If nothing else, at least fans can see a former Tiger on TNT for the pre-game, post-game, and half-time shows with the great Charles Barkley being part of the greatest sports talk panel that exists on Inside the NBA.