Cavaliers Announce Major Donovan Mitchell Injury Update After Blowout Loss

"Left ankle," said Atkinson. "Left ankle injury. He will get a MRI tomorrow."

When pressed about Mitchell’s availability moving forward, Atkinson added:

"No idea, obviously he couldn't go in the second half. So, see what the MRI says."

This is a potentially devastating blow for a Cleveland team that entered the playoffs as the top seed in the East. Mitchell, the former Louisville standout, has been averaging 31.3 points per game over his first seven postseason outings.

He was just as impressive during the regular season, putting up 24 points and five assists per game. In Cleveland’s Game 3 win over the Pacers on Friday, Mitchell poured in 43 points and grabbed nine rebounds. That followed a 48-point performance on May 6.

If Mitchell is sidelined, the Cavaliers will need big performances from guards Darius Garland and Max Strus. Bench contributors like Ty Jerome and Dean Wade may also be asked to step up and play crucial minutes.

Garland led the Cavaliers in scoring with 21 points in Game 4, though he finished with a plus-minus of -21.

Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. The Cavaliers will need a major turnaround—potentially without their star guard—to keep their postseason hopes alive.