The Cleveland Cavaliers are now down 3-1 in their series against the Indiana Pacers, and things are getting worse before they get any better. After halftime of Game 4, Donovan Mitchell did not return to the floor for the Cavs, as he was dealing with an ankle injury. Mitchell is now a game-time decision for Game 5, but some think that he should be shut down for the series if it’s serious.
“Just want to go on record as saying I’d shut down Donovan Mitchell. I’m not messing with a calf/ankle combo injury down 3-1 with a minimal chance to win the title,” Ben Axelrod of Awful Announcing wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Mitchell is already dealing with a calf injury that he’s been playing with, and adding an ankle problem just seems like a lot at this moment. The Cavs are not out of the series, but last game showed that they may not have what it takes to get past the Pacers, especially with other players on the team injured as well.
Mitchell has been the driving force for the Cavs in the playoffs, and if he’s not able to give it his best, it might just be time to rest him and see if they can win a do-or-die game without him.
Donovan Mitchell is a game-time decision for Cavs in Game 5
The Cavs are in a win-or-go-home situation as Game 5 approaches, and they don’t have a lot of things working for them at the moment. With Mitchell dealing with two injuries, there’s a good chance he won’t be healthy enough to suit up. If he does play, it’s obvious that he won’t be 100%, but he’s going to do whatever it takes to help the team win.
Besides Mitchell, Darius Garland has been playing through a big toe sprain that has limited him, and it caused him to miss the first two games of the series. Garland has been a big part of the Cavs’ success this season, and him being compromised on the court is not good for their chances.
The Cavs were one of the best teams in the league this season, but the Pacers are dominating them in almost every facet of the game, which is what head coach Kenny Atkinson relayed after their latest loss.
“Complete domination by them. That’s the story — in every facet,” Atkinson said via Scott Agness of the Fieldhouse Files.
The Cavs still have a chance, but it’s going to take a lot for them to get a win.
