It was not too long ago that the Cleveland Cavaliers were the talk of the NBA. They were on the best stretch in franchise history that didn’t include LeBron James being on the roster, looking to cement their status as one of the true contenders in the league.
Cleveland went on an 18-2 run ahead of the NBA All-Star Break, climbing to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. But, since coming out of the break, the team has fallen on some hard times.
The Cavaliers are 3-4 since the break, including a brutal loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday afternoon. Cleveland lost 107-98 despite the Knicks losing Jalen Brunson on their first offensive possession of the game and New York already being without Julius Randle, OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson.
Playing without key contributors is something the Cavaliers know all too well. They were without Darius Garland and Evan Mobley for a stretch of the season, which Donovan Mitchell carried the team through.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Donovan Mitchell & Cleveland Cavaliers Updates
However, the script has been flipped. It is now Mitchell who is sidelined, as the Cavaliers need other players to step up. Mitchell has missed the last two games because of soreness in his left knee, and will now miss at least three more.
It was announced that Mitchell underwent a PRP injection Monday to deal with a bone bruise. He has been announced out for matchups against the Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks and Minnesota Timberwolves, at a minimum.
This is a tough blow for the Cavaliers, who are 7-6 during the 2023-24 NBA regular season without Mitchell in the lineup. They will be tested over the next three games, playing two of the best teams in the NBA without their leading scorer.
A few losses piling up would be costly for the team. The Cavaliers are currently holding a five-game lead over the Miami Heat, who are holding the top spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament in the conference. An extended absence for Mitchell could lead to that lead shrinking fast.
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