The Atlanta Hawks visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night with playoff positioning on the line, but both teams enter the matchup with several players listed on the injury report.
Cleveland (50-29) sits fourth in the Eastern Conference and has already secured a playoff berth, while Atlanta (45-34) is fifth and pushing to strengthen its postseason standing during the final stretch of the regular season.
The biggest question mark surrounds Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, who is listed as questionable due to a right ankle sprain. Mitchell has been Cleveland’s leading scorer this season, averaging 27.8 points, 5.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game while shooting 48.1% from the field across 69 appearances.
If Mitchell is limited or unavailable, Cleveland would likely rely more heavily on James Harden and Evan Mobley to stabilize the offense.
Harden has averaged 20.5 points and 7.9 assists in 24 games with the Cavaliers, while Mobley contributes 18.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game as the team’s interior anchor.
The Cavaliers also list Jaylon Tyson as questionable with a bone bruise in his left great toe. Tyson has averaged 13.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in 64 games this season and has provided consistent perimeter scoring and rebounding from the wing.
Forward Dean Wade is another Cleveland player listed as questionable due to a right ankle sprain. Wade averages 5.8 points and 4.2 rebounds and typically fills a floor-spacing and defensive role in the frontcourt rotation.
Two Cavaliers players have already been ruled out for Wednesday’s game. Center Thomas Bryant will miss the matchup with a left calf strain, and Tristan Enaruna is out while on a G League two-way assignment.
Atlanta’s injury report is shorter but still includes a notable absence.
Center Jock Landale has been ruled out with a right high ankle sprain. The veteran big man averages 9.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 19.4 minutes per game and serves as a depth option behind Onyeka Okongwu.
Two Hawks players on two-way contracts are also listed as questionable. RayJ Dennis and Keshon Gilbert are both dealing with G League-related designations, leaving their availability uncertain for the matchup.
Despite the injuries, Atlanta still features one of the most productive frontcourt players in the conference in Jalen Johnson. The forward is averaging 22.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game while playing more than 35 minutes per night.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker has also been a major contributor, producing 20.8 points per game while shooting 39.9% from three-point range.
The Cavaliers enter the game on a three-game winning streak after victories over the Memphis Grizzlies and Indiana Pacers.
Atlanta lost 108-105 to the New York Knicks on April 6 but previously recorded a 141-107 win over the Brooklyn Nets.
The teams have split their two meetings this season. Cleveland won 117-109 on Nov. 2, while Atlanta responded with a 130-123 victory on Nov. 28.
