Star guard Donovan Mitchell will not be in action for the Cleveland Cavaliers for a second consecutive game as they prepare to face the Detroit Pistons on Friday. Mitchell is recovering from a right groin strain, which sidelined him during Wednesday’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Cavaliers have struggled without their star, managing only two wins against three losses in the games played since Mitchell last took the court against the New York Knicks, where he scored 23 points, along with five rebounds, four assists, and three steals in just over 31 minutes. This season, Mitchell has been a standout performer, averaging 28.5 points, 5.8 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals, with shooting splits of .483 from the field, .369 from three-point range, and .852 from the free-throw line.
In addition to Mitchell’s absence, his new backcourt partner, James Harden, is also dealing with injury issues. Harden has been diagnosed with a non-displaced fracture in his right thumb, resulting in him being heavily wrapped when he left the locker room after Wednesday’s game. His status for Friday’s matchup remains questionable.
Compounding the injury woes for the Cavaliers, another guard, Keon Ellis, is dealing with a fractured left index finger and is also listed as questionable for the game against Detroit. Furthermore, point guard Dennis Schröder and forward Dean Wade are battling right ankle sprains, raising concerns over the Cavaliers’ depth as they approach the upcoming matchup.
Interestingly, both Harden’s and Ellis’ injuries affect their non-shooting hands, which may lessen the impact on their overall performance when they do return. Ellis suffered his injury during the game against the Bucks, where he played 29 minutes.
With several key players dealing with injuries, the Cavaliers will need to call upon their remaining healthy roster to rise to the occasion as they look to improve their record on the road against the Pistons. As the season progresses, fans will be hopeful for the swift recovery of their star players to regain competitiveness in the league.