The end of the regular season is upon us. And this year, Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers have been amazing. They’ve got the most wins out of any team in the East, and they’ve gone on two separate 14-game winning streaks this season. It’s safe to say that they are legitimate contenders for the NBA championship this season and favorites to win the East.
But let’s not get too ahead of ourselves. The Cavs still need to finish the regular season strong. And the Indiana Pacers are the team that will try to stop them. So let’s see how things look for the Cavs personnel-wise as we dive into their injury report.(Spoiler alert: Quite a few names on the list)
Cleveland Cavaliers Injury Report – Will Donovan Mitchell play against the Indiana Pacers?
There are nine players listed on the Cavs’ injury report for the Indiana game. Four of them are on it because they are being rested, while the others find themselves on it through injury. And we’re sad to say that Donovan Mitchell, who’s on the injury report, falls in the latter category.
Yes, Mitchell is OUT with an ankle sprain. As it stands, there is no established timeline for his return. But when Kenny Atkinson talked to the press after Mitchell was left out of the squad for the recent Bulls game, he said the doctors’ examination of Mitchell wouldn’t turn up anything. So it’s likely that Mitchell’s exclusion is cautionary. And here are the eight players who will be sitting out the upcoming game alongside him:
Darius Garland – OUT (Left Great Toe; Injury Management)
Jerome Ty – OUT (Left Knee; Injury Management)
Evan Movley – OUT (Low Back; Soreness)
Max Strus – OUT (Right Knee; Injury Management)
Sam Merrill – OUT (Rest)
De’Andre Hunter – OUT (Rest)
Issac Okoro – OUT (Rest)
Dean Wade – OUT (Rest)
Told you there were a lot of names on the report. But the fact that 4 of the Cavs’ 5 starters are out will be concerning to you fans. Moreover, Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Max Strus, and Evan Mobley, all being listed as injured, doesn’t help either. Safe tos say, looking at this injury report raises a few questions. So let’s try to answer some of the more pressing ones now that we know the personnel situation for the Cavs ahead of the Pacers game.
Precaution or a sign of worse things to come?
Nine players on a team’s injury report is quite an ill omen heading into the postseason. But it is worth remembering that the Cavs literally have nothing to play for in this game. They’ve gained home-court advantage throughout the Playoffs by securing the top seed in the East. So it’s likely that these players are simply being given some well-deserved rest ahead of the impending postseason.
Feb 20, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guards Darius Garland (10) and Donovan Mitchell (45) react during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
However, there is a more worrying possibility. This may be the case of a late injury bug plaguing the Cavs’ locker room. And that’s something that none of us want to be true. We saw how the Cavs played without Donovan Mitchell last year. It wasn’t the best look for them. But we can only imagine how bad it might look when 80% of their starters are injured.
That said, we will only find out what the situation really looks like once head coach Kenny Atkinson reveals his cards. Nonetheless, as things stand, the Cavs will need to fight the Indiana Pacers tooth and nail for a victory tonight.
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