Kofi Inkoom
Cleveland Cavaliers’ star Donovan Mitchell will be absent from Game 4 of Cleveland’s Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Boston Celtics due to a left calf strain, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Mitchell showed signs of discomfort in the later part of the fourth quarter during Cleveland’s 106-93 loss to the Celtics on Saturday night. He played for over 22 minutes in the second half before being substituted out with 1:19 left, with Boston leading by 13 points.
Mitchell was listed on the injury report on Sunday with the left calf strain, which is a new injury for him. He was not seen during the team’s morning shootaround on Monday ahead of Game 4.
This left calf strain adds to a series of left leg problems Mitchell has faced since the All-Star Break, causing him to miss 15 of Cleveland’s first 20 games after the break due to various issues, including lingering ones in his left quad and knee.
Despite these challenges, Mitchell has displayed an impressive performance in the playoffs, averaging over 35 points in the last six games for the Cavaliers and scoring at least 25 points in all of them, a feat achieved only by LeBron James in Cleveland franchise history.
This includes an outstanding performance in Games 6 and 7 of the first-round series against the Orlando Magic, as well as a strong showing in Game 2 against Boston, where he scored 29 points, including 23 in the second half.
Additionally, his teammate Jarrett Allen will also be sidelined, marking seven consecutive missed games due to a bruised rib injury sustained midway through the first-round series against Orlando.