Sources tell cleveland.com that the decision was made shortly after the Game 6 setback, with the team hoping to carry over the defensive intensity from late Friday night.

Wade has been the starter every single game he’s been available since December. The only games Strus or Merrill started were games Wade couldn’t play. “When they made the decision to go away from De’Andre and put Dean in the starting lineup.

Cavaliers dominate Raptors 2-0 as James Harden and Donovan Mitchell lead the charge, while Scottie Barnes offers hope ahead of the crucial Game 3 showdown in the playoff series. The Cleveland Cavaliers were criticized as ‘soft’ by Kendrick Perkins earlier in the season.