For the Cleveland Cavaliers, there’s some concern right now over star guard Donovan Mitchell. Right now, they’re preparing for Game 5 of their dramatic playoff series. Mitchell’s removal from play right before the start of the third quarter in Game 4 was significant. The Cavaliers eventually lost the game by a score of 129-109. He experienced a sharp pain in his left ankle, and he never returned to the game. That puts his availability for the crucial showdown Tuesday night in question.
Mitchell appeared to be in pain in the first half of Game 4. He grimaced after every missed shot, suddenly cutting a jump shot in midair to double over at the waist. This situation even led to the team’s training staff to run onto the court to check on him. Mitchell, unable to find a second gear, managed only 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting in exactly 20 minutes played during that first half. Sadly, his injury capped him at a disappointing 1-of-5 from deep.
Before that awful injury, Mitchell was literally 🔥🔥🔥! He snapped back-to-back 40-point games, a feat not done by a Cavaliers player since LeBron James. His prior outings on the rubber set the bar high for the Tribe. They firmly ensconced his status as a main playoff actor. The injury he suffered at halftime now looms over his meaningful impact and the Eagles’ future outlook.
As the Cavaliers head into a pivotal Game 5, they’ll have to figure out how to proceed moving forward with their top scorer on the bench. Now their team is at a very different moment during the playoffs. Without Mitchell, their chance of moving on in the very competitive series would be dealt a severe blow.
Cleveland’s coaching staff is expected to monitor Mitchell’s condition closely leading up to Tuesday night’s game, but as of now, his ankle is considered doubtful for a return. Nonetheless, the team intends to regroup and prepare to address this major setback. They’ll turn to players like Ajou to come through should Mitchell miss significant time.
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