Facing a 3-1 series deficit to the heavily favored Boston Celtics, the Cleveland Cavaliers are in danger of playing their final game of the season tonight. And now, reports are suggesting the Cavaliers will likely be without their star player for the second consecutive game. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Donovan Mitchell, who missed Cleveland’s Game 4 loss due to a calf injury, will likely miss Game 5 as well.
Cavaliers All-Star Donovan Mitchell is expected to miss tonight’s potential elimination Game 5 vs. Boston, sources tell me and @joevardon. Mitchell is dealing with a calf strain. pic.twitter.com/mdp5As2FVI
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 15, 2024
Without Mitchell, the Cavaliers kept it close against the Celtics during Game 4. However, the upset ultimately did not come to fruition as the team lost 109-102. Additionally, Caris LeVert, who scored 19 points in Game 4, is questionable for tonight’s game due to a knee injury. Furthermore, Jarrett Allen, who has missed the entire series so far, is still listed as questionable on the injury report with a rib injury.
Game 5 Status for Cleveland Cavaliers Star Revealed
Has Donovan Mitchell Played His Last Game With the Cleveland Cavaliers?
If the Cavaliers lose in Game 5, they will officially be eliminated from the playoffs. On the flip side, if they pull off the upset, there is still no concrete return date for Mitchell yet. Mitchell is facing a potential contract year as he has a $37 million player option for the 2025-26 season. So far, the two sides have not agreed to a contract extension, and nothing seems imminent. Recently, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that “multiple teams” will likely go all out and heavily pursue Mitchell this offseason.
“The NBA, especially beginning with what Donovan says at the end of the season, is paying very close attention because multiple teams would love to make a huge offer to the Cavs if Donovan does not choose to extend his contract,” said Brian Windhorst.
However, Windhorst also said that some within the Cavaliers organization remain optimistic Mitchell will re-sign.
“There is an optimism within that organization that they’re going to sign him,” said Windhorst of the Cavaliers.
Windhorst’s report echoes what Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert said back in March.
“We’ve been talking to him, sure, for the last couple of years about extending this contract,” Gilbert said Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press. “We think he will extend. I think if you listen to him talk, he loves the city.
“He loves the situation in Cleveland because our players are very young and we’re just kind of putting the core together that he’s clearly the biggest part of.”
The Last Word on Donovan Mitchell
Whether Mitchell leaves Cleveland this summer or not remains unclear. Regardless, their season is still not over yet. Though overcoming a 3-1 series deficit is not a foreign concept for the Cavaliers, missing Mitchell will make it an incredibly difficult feat. Now, they must prepare to take on a mighty Celtics team on the road in a potential elimination game.
The Cavaliers and Celtics face off for Game 5 tonight at 7 PM EST.
