Dellavedova Released From Cleveland Clinic, Says He Will Be Ready For Game 4

Matt Dellavedova of the Cleveland Cavaliers has left the hospital, and Dellavedova has his eyes on Game 4.

The San Jose Mercury News is reporting that Dellavedova, after one of the strongest individual efforts during Game 3 of the Cavaliers’s 96-91 victory, is on his way home now to rest. Cleveland now leads the NBA Finals two games to one, and is building momentum with strong, almost superhuman efforts by the Cavaliers’ LeBron James and Dellavedova.

James’ effort is to be expected, but Dellavedova? The 20-year-old Australian, who played college at St. Mary’s College, and was undrafted, pitched in with a stellar performance. Dellavedova, or “Delly,” scored 20 points in the game, and pitched in another defensive gem against Stephen Curry, leaving everything on the floor.

Immediately following the end of the game, Dellavedova had to be taken to a local hospital and admitted for severe dehydration. Dellavedova spent the night at the hospital hooked to IVs to get the fluids rebuilt in his body. Dellavedova’s prognosis is good.

“The tank is low,” Cavaliers head coach David Blatt said of Dellavedova. “We’re doing everything we can to fill it back up.”

“We’ve got to be realistic and keep our eyes on him and see how he recovers,” Blatt said. “Hopefully, in the ensuing 48 hours, he’s going to be able to catch up and get back up to par in terms of his body. He’ll be out there and we’ll just monitor.”

Dellavedova said he would devote all of Wednesday for recovery and rest, and that Dellavedova would be ready for Game 4.

The Washington Post is reporting that Dellavedova is winning fans over with his effort, diving for loose basketballs and playing pressing defense against Golden State’s superstar and NBA MVP Stephen Curry, who ended up scoring 27 points, but rarely scored when defended by Dellavedova.

Blatt was asked how he would coach Dellavedova from here on in for the Finals. “I told him I would limit his minutes, and he said, ‘No, you’re not,'” Blatt said of Dellavedova. “Hopefully, in the ensuing 48 hours he’ll be able … to get back up to par, so to speak. He’ll be out there and we’ll monitor how he is doing.”

Dehydration that leads to the kind of severe muscle cramping that Dellavedova suffered Tuesday night and James had suffered from in the past, if not diagnosed and treated, can lead to limited mobility and could lead to cognitive issues if left unchecked. Once diagnosed, usually an electrolyte imbalance and/or a magnesium deficiency, the solution is just that — usually an intravenous solution that restores the electrolyte balance and magnesium levels.

[Image courtesy of Fox Sports Australia]