Donovan Mitchell offered an optimistic update regarding his injury after the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Game 4 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. The Cavaliers’ star guard, who injured his left ankle during the second half, assured fans that he will be ready to play in Game 5 on Tuesday.
“I will be good for Tuesday. You know me. I will see you Tuesday,” Mitchell told cleveland.com, with a smile, while leaving Gainbridge Fieldhouse alongside his father after the game.
Despite Mitchell’s injury, the Cavaliers fell to the Pacers 129-109 in a dominant Game 4 performance by Indiana. The Pacers, leading the series 3-1, built a commanding 41-point halftime lead, tying an NBA playoff record.
Pascal Siakam led the charge with 21 points on 9-of-10 shooting, while Myles Turner and Obi Toppin each added 20 points in the wire-to-wire victory.
Mitchell had been a crucial contributor for Cleveland, scoring 12 points in 20 minutes before being sidelined. Head coach Kenny Atkinson stated that Mitchell would undergo an MRI on Monday to assess the severity of the injury.
However, Mitchell’s quick recovery appears likely to help Cleveland’s efforts in Game 5 on Tuesday, when they aim to avoid an early postseason exit.
The Cavaliers were already trailing by a significant margin when Mitchell was hurt. Indiana controlled the game from the start, utilizing runs of 11-2 and 13-0 to jump to a 48-23 lead in the second quarter.
The Pacers maintained their dominant play in the second half, despite the ejection of Bennedict Mathurin early in the game for a flagrant foul.
With the loss, Cleveland now faces a must-win situation in Game 5 on Tuesday at Rocket Arena, where the Pacers have already claimed two wins.
