The Cleveland Cavaliers are preparing for a monumental Game 5 against the Indiana Pacers this Tuesday night. Star guard Donovan Mitchell is expected to go, though he’s working through his own issues after spraining his right ankle in Game 1. The Cavaliers find themselves in a challenging position, trailing the series 3-1, and a loss could eliminate them from the playoffs.
Mitchell sat out the second half of the Cavaliers’ last game against the Pacers. He was shown to have some concern with his left ankle during the halftime aerial warm-ups. He incurred the injury on April 6. That’s how it occurred when he came down on the foot of Sacramento’s Keon Ellis, rolling his ankle on landing. After sustaining that injury, he was sidelined for the last four games of the regular season.
Mitchell had taken to the court Tuesday morning for a shootaround. He had just finished his typical pregame shooting routine less than an hour before tipoff. Regardless, the Cavaliers need him on the court. He has been phenomenal during the playoffs, averaging 28.9 points per game, including five of those games with 30 or more points.
Only three hours ahead of game time, and Mitchell left the court. He even played off the Cavaliers’ hashtag theme #LetEmKnow to announce his arrival, letting them know he was all in. He was on the questionable list going into this game, causing a great deal of stress to fans and pundits too.
Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson addressed Mitchell’s status, saying, “We know the situation we’re in. I can’t give you a definitive but my hope is that he plays.” This very brief announcement shows how in the dark we are about Mitchell’s situation. Perhaps most importantly, it underscores the dire straits in which the team has found itself.
Mitchell may be back in time for his return, but the Cavaliers will have to do without departed Sam Merrill’s value for Game 5. He’s done due to a neck strain. The Pacers have already secured two victories in Cleveland during this series and can close it out with a win on Tuesday night.
As the Cavaliers prepare to face a formidable Pacers team, all eyes will be on Donovan Mitchell’s performance and his ability to overcome his injury. This game’s final score will decide if Cleveland returns to the playoffs or heads back home after a long season.
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