As the clock wound down on a pivotal Sunday night, the atmosphere in Cleveland turned somber for the Eastern Conference’s top seed. The Cavaliers didn’t just find themselves trailing 3-1 in their playoff series; they are now grappling with a troubling injury concern ahead of Game 5.
In what has become a do-or-die situation for the Cavaliers, the fate of their leading scorer, Donovan Mitchell, hangs in the balance. His outing in Game 4 was abruptly cut short after just 20 minutes of play, where he managed to score 12 points, but recorded a staggering -35 in plus-minus rating.
Postgame, head coach Kenny Atkinson took to the media to shed some light on Mitchell’s condition. His remarks, shared through SportsCenter, were succinct yet concerning:
Kenny Atkinson gives an update on Donovan Mitchell. pic.twitter.com/NYQ3yIcMCd
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 12, 2025
“Left ankle,” Atkinson disclosed. “He will undergo an MRI tomorrow.”
When asked about the possibility of Mitchell’s future involvement in the series, Atkinson’s tone was tinged with uncertainty:
“No idea; clearly, he couldn’t continue in the second half. We’ll have to see what the MRI reveals.”
This injury could prove catastrophic for a Cavaliers squad that entered the postseason brimming with confidence as the East’s front-runner. Mitchell, a standout from Louisville, has been a powerhouse, averaging an impressive 31.3 points per game through his first seven playoff contests.
He also excelled during the regular season, posting averages of 24 points and five assists per game. In a recent highlight, Mitchell dazzled fans with a remarkable 43-point performance in Cleveland’s Game 3 victory over the Pacers, just a few days after a jaw-dropping 48-point outing on May 6.
If Mitchell finds himself on the sidelines for Game 5, the Cavaliers will be relying heavily on guards Darius Garland and Max Strus to rise to the occasion. Bench players like Ty Jerome and Dean Wade may also be called upon to step up in this critical moment.
Garland, who led the scoring for the Cavaliers in Game 4 with 21 points, had a rough go, finishing the game with a plus-minus of -21.
With Game 5 looming on Tuesday at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, the Cavaliers face the daunting challenge of needing a complete turnaround—potentially without their star player—to keep their championship dreams alive.
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