Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell underwent an MRI on Monday after exiting Sunday’s Game 4 loss against the Indiana Pacers with an injured left ankle.
ESPN reported Monday the exam showed a reaggravation of the injury and that Mitchell is expected to be a game-time decision for Tuesday night’s Game 5.
Mitchell did not play in the second half of Sunday’s 129-109 setback in Indianapolis, finishing with 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting and zero assists in 20 minutes. The Cavaliers trailed 80-39 at the break.
The top-seeded Cavaliers are down 3-1 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series. Indiana can close it out Tuesday in Cleveland.
Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said Sunday night he had “no idea” whether the six-time All-Star guard would be available Tuesday night.
Mitchell warmed up for the second half but experienced discomfort in the ankle and was checked out by the training staff. He went back to the locker room for treatment and did not return to the game.
Mitchell, 28, was coming off back-to-back monster efforts in Game 2 (48 points) and Game 3 (43 points). For the series, he is averaging 34.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.8 steals in four starts.
–Field Level Media
