Cleveland will be without Donovan Mitchell for the entirety of a crucial Game 4 on Monday night. Mitchell is sidelined due to a strained calf, as reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. This comes as a major blow for the Cavaliers, who are already trailing 2-1 in the series against the Boston Celtics. With Mitchell out, overcoming the top-seeded Celtics in Game 5 would be a herculean task.
The absence of Mitchell, who has been the Cavs' primary shot creator and the focal point of the Celtics' defense, is significant. Over the three games, he has averaged an impressive 31.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game, while shooting a remarkable 53.3% from beyond the arc. Despite his stellar performance, Cleveland has struggled during the 24 minutes he has spent on the bench, posting a -31 point differential and a dismal offensive rating of 68.9.
Mitchell's injury first became an issue in the fourth quarter of Game 3. Although he was officially listed as questionable for Game 4, he was neither present at the shootaround nor seen warming up before the game. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff emphasized Mitchell's desire to play but stressed the importance of player safety. "He wants to play. He'll do everything in his power to play. But, like we do with all our guys, if they can't put themselves in a position to protect themselves, we won't let them play," Bickerstaff stated, according to Evan Dammarell of Right Down Euclid.
With Mitchell out, Darius Garland will now take on the primary scoring and playmaking responsibilities. Caris LeVert will step into the starting lineup, and the Cavaliers will also continue to miss Jarrett Allen.
Beyond the immediate challenge of Game 4, these playoffs have broader implications for the Cavaliers' future with Mitchell. He has one year remaining on his contract worth $35.4 million, and this summer, the team plans to offer him a max contract extension estimated at $199 million over four years. Mitchell's decision to sign or not could significantly impact the franchise. If he declines, the Cavaliers might be compelled to consider trading him, a possibility that has already generated considerable buzz.
Login