Tying the series becomes even more daunting if Mitchell isn’t able to go on Monday.
Donovan Mitchell joins Jarrett Allen (right rib contusion) on the injury report as questionable ahead of Game 4 on Monday against the Boston Celtics. Mitchell is listed as having a left calf strain. This is the same leg that had the knee bone bruise earlier this season that forced him to miss multiple weeks after the All-Star break.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are already facing an uphill battle by being down 2-1 against the team with the best regular season record. That task would seem nearly impossible if Mitchell isn’t able to go. He’s been the best player in this series. Mitchell is averaging 31.7 points on .515/.533/.786 shooting with 5.3 assists, 6.3 rebounds, and one steal per game in the second round.
Mitchell was phenomenal once again in Game 3, but he wasn’t getting to the rim like his team needed him to do. Only four of his 22 shot attempts came in the restricted area and he attempted just three free throws. He didn’t say that his leg/calf was bothering him postgame, but how often he’s able to get to the rim has been an indicator of how healthy he’s been.
The Cavs have been a mediocre team without Mitchell as they recorded a 12-15 record in games he didn’t play this season. They outscored opponents by 7.3 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor (86th percentile). Their net rating dropped to -2.7 without him (39th percentile).
That trend has continued in the playoffs, but only in smaller sample sizes. Cleveland has a -0.3 net rating (44th percentile) with him on in the postseason and a -32.8 net rating (0 percentile) without him.
Mitchell will do his best to be on the court on Tuesday. At the same time, his name likely wouldn’t be on the injury report if he wasn’t really in pain. Even if he’s able to go, he will probably be closer to the player we saw in Game 3 and not in Game 2.
Allen hasn’t played since Game 4 of the first round against the Orlando Magic. He’s made progress in some of the on-court work he’s been able to do, but it would be somewhat surprising if he made a return to the lineup on Tuesday.
