Donovan Mitchell Injury Update: Heartbreaking Confession on Knee Discomfort May Jeopardise Cavs Star’s Availability vs Pacers

Donovan Mitchell had missed the past seven games before he finally suited up against the Pelicans. The Cavs won that one but didn’t find the same success tonight. The Houston Rockets blew Cleveland off 117-103 as Mitchell had left for the locker room in the second half. He took a hit to the face in a collision under the basket in the third quarter.

He did return to the game to finish the night with 13 points, two assists, and three rebounds. But Mitchell was not too happy as his post-game talks reveal. Referring to his injury, Mitch gave a concerning update as tweeted by the X post, “I thought I was ready. I’m not. I want to be out there, but that’s clear as day.”

It further revealed, “Donovan Mitchell admits the knee injury is still an issue for him and he will probably not play the next game for the Cavaliers. He wants to “get it right” and be ready to go.”

Having missed the Suns matchup as well, Mitchell had been out for 18 games this season. Dealing with a bruised bone in his knee, the ‘Spida’ had received a PRP or Platelet Rich Plasma injection to treat the issue. Cleveland’s coach JB Bickerstaff was of the opinion that the knee injury was the result of wear and tear.

Along with the missed games, Donovan Mitchell will also lose the opportunity to be considered for any postseason awards. The NBA’s latest 65-game rule stipulates that players cannot miss more than 17 games if they are to be considered for the postseason awards. As great as that may have been, the Cavaliers are fast approaching the playoffs and Mitch’s presence on-court would be advantageous.

Can Donovan Mitchell take the Cavaliers past the first round this time?

The Cleveland Cavaliers couldn’t be more serious about their playoff aspirations this season. But unfortunately, injuries have been a constant roadblock in their dreams. The Cavs star players Evan Mobley and Darius Garland feature prominently and almost regularly on the injury report. Yet, that hasn’t stopped the team from giving it their all. The ‘City of Champions’ are currently the third-seeded team in the East, right behind Milwaukee and Boston.

Read More: Betrayed by 76ers, 34YO NBA Veteran Seeks Redemption With Donovan Mitchell and Co 34 Days Before Playoffs

That success, in major part lies in the hands of Donovan Mitchell. The Cavs are 33-16 with him on the court this season. The 5x All-Star is averaging 27.4 points, career-highs of 6.1 assists, and 5.3 rebounds with a true shooting percentage of 60.0. Not to mention, Mitch attempts, on an average, 9.1 shots from beyond the arc, ranking third for the most three-point attempts per game in the league this season.

Only Luka Doncic (10.3) and Stephen Curry (12.1) take more shots from downtown, unsurprisingly. There is no doubt that Mitchell will give it his all in the playoffs, but it depends on if he can stay healthy for the same. Whether or not the team can stand the aggressiveness of the playoffs, there is only so much the ‘Spida’ can do on his own.