The Cleveland Cavaliers are making progress with the recovery of Donovan Mitchell’s injury timeline.
Mitchell missed the last week of games due to an ankle injury. He suffered it in the Cavs’ matchup against the San Antonio Spurs on April 6, which had him miss the remainder of the regular season.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson provided an update on Mitchell ahead of the team’s season finale against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. What he said should bring optimism to fans hoping for a quick return in the postseason.
“I think he’ll be full on with practice. We’re going to have to scrimmage at some point, probably intersquad with refs, so he’ll participate in that,” coach Kenny Atkinson said. “The most important thing is how we build him up with the ankle rehab and then conditioning.”
What’s next for Donovan Mitchell, Cavs
Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The Cavs will need Donovan Mitchell to be as healthy as possible, looking to make their case as title contenders in the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
Mitchell helped catapult the Cavs into the conversation with his leadership and consistency as their best scorer. He produced 24 points, five assists and 4.5 rebounds per game after 71 appearances. He shot 44.3% from the field, including 36.8% from beyond the arc.
Cleveland finished with a 64-18 record, their best regular season since the 3 season when LeBron James led the squad. They averaged 122 points on 49.2% shooting overall, including 38.5% from downtown. As a result, they took down opponents by a solid margin of 9.8 points per game.
The Cavs will rest while they await their opponent in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Possible teams they would face are those in the Play-In Tournament. They are the Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, and Miami Heat.
Cleveland hasn’t made the NBA Finals since LeBron James left in 2018. This year, they now have an opportunity to become the first squad in franchise history to reach that stage without him leading the way.
