Who needs to step up for injury-ravaged Cavs?

The Cleveland Cavaliers are in a tough situation. After earning the No. 1 seed in the East with a dominant 64-18 record, Cleveland was projected to make it to the Conference Finals with little resistance. But after a disappointing Game 1 and heartbreaking Tyrese Haliburton's game-winner in Game 2, the Cavs are down 2-0 to the Indiana Pacers. 

The main concern for the Cavaliers is their mounting list of injuries. All-Star guard Darius Garland has missed four straight games this postseason due to a left toe injury, and newly-minted Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley was out for Game 2 because of a left ankle sprain he suffered in the series opener. Just to add insult to literal injury, wing De'Andre Hunter, whom the Cavs traded for at the deadline to shore up their weak perimeter, couldn't suit up because of a dislocated right thumb. 

The Cavs are so plagued by injuries that even their players who remain in the rotation are playing through injury. According to Joe Vardon at The Athletic, Cleveland's superstar Donovan Mitchell is playing through a calf strain. 

"I'm banged up, but we all are," Mitchell told the outlet.

Despite the circumstances, Mitchell was not making excuses on or off the court. 

“For us, if they [Garland, Mobley and Hunter] play Friday, great. We definitely need them. But if they don’t, we gotta be ready, understand that we’ve shown we can do this.” the Cavs point guard said. 

Mitchell certainly proved that he was ready on the court in Game 2, putting up 48 points, nine assists and four steals.