Cleveland Cavaliers star guard Donovan Mitchell missed seven straight games from March 1 until March 11 with a left knee bruise. He received a platelet-rich-plasma injection shortly after the injury occurred.
The 27-year-old made his return to action on Wednesday playing 28 minutes in a win over the New Orleans Pelicans. On Saturday, Mitchell left the game multiple times due to his knee ailment. He ended up playing 26 minutes in Cleveland’s loss to the Houston Rockets.
After the game, Mitchell admitted that he thought he was ready but that he clearly returned too soon. He made it evident he doesn’t expect to play in the next game on Monday against the Indiana Pacers.
Cavaliers All-Star to Miss Time After Recent Return From Injury
Mitchell Clearly Didn’t Look Like Himself
In the two games since returning, Mitchell clearly didn’t look like himself. The five-time All-Star combined for 27 points in the two outings on 9-29 shooting. The lack of explosiveness is evident in the fact that he attempted just two free throws in his two games back. Mitchell’s game on Wednesday was the first time all season that he didn’t go to the charity stripe.
The Cavaliers went 3-4 in the seven straight games Mitchell missed with the injury. Mitchell has missed 18 games so far this season, and the team has gone .500 without him (9-9).
In his 49 games this season, Mitchell has posted averages of 27.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.8 steals.
Not the Only Cleveland Player to Miss a Bunch of Time
It is impressive that the Cavaliers sit third in the Eastern Conference with a 42-25 record. They are only a game behind the Milwaukee Bucks, who are second. The team has dealt with a multitude of injuries throughout the season, keeping them short-handed.
Power forward Evan Mobley has missed Cleveland’s last six games with a sprained ankle. The 2022 Rookie of the Year runner-up previously missed 26 straight games in December and January after undergoing surgery on his left knee.
Darius Garland, an All-Star in 2022, missed 19 straight games in December and January with a broken jaw.
Starting small forward Max Strus has missed the Cavaliers’ last seven games with a right knee strain. Dean Wade, who has been starting for Mobley, has missed the last three contests.
So Cleveland has been able to overcome adversity for much of the season, but a lengthy absence for Donovan Mitchell could be costly. The Cavaliers’ lead has dwindled down to just two games over the fourth-seeded New York Knicks.
Both teams would love to finish the season third in the Eastern Conference. That would allow them to avoid a potential playoff matchup with the Boston Celtics until the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics have a 9.5 game lead in the conference.
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