Cavs' Donovan Mitchell (calf) unsure for Sport 5 after lacking Sport 4 – NBA.com

Cleveland's star swingman injured his calf within the 4th quarter of Boston's 106-93 win in Sport 3.
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Donovan Mitchell (left) talks with Evan Mobley throughout a stoppage in play throughout Sport 4 vs. Boston.
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CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell spent the largest sport of Cleveland’s season sitting helplessly on the bench in avenue garments.
In a manner, it was nearly becoming. The Cavs have been banged up for months.
The All-Star guard sat out Game 4 on Monday night time with a strained left calf and couldn’t assist because the Cavaliers fought laborious earlier than shedding 109-102 to the Boston Celtics, who took a 3-1 of their East semifinal series.
Mitchell, who has been coping with a left knee harm for the reason that All-Star break, received harm within the closing minutes of Cleveland’s loss on Saturday in Sport 3. He spent the previous two days receiving round the clock remedy on his calf however couldn’t go.
It’s unknown if he’ll be accessible for Sport 5 on Wednesday in Boston (7 ET, TNT) because the Cavs attempt to hold alive a season that accidents have outlined.
Though they had been lacking Mitchell and beginning middle Jarrett Allen, who missed his seventh straight sport with a rib harm, Cleveland pushed the top-seeded Celtics to the restrict. The Cavs had been inside 5 within the remaining two minutes, however Max Strus missed a 3-pointer and Cleveland couldn’t get a defensive cease.
“They’re a linked group that has been resilient all 12 months lengthy,” mentioned coach J.B. Bickerstaff. “We’ve been by a ton with this group, and by no means as soon as has our group folded when guys have had alternatives or the staff wants them to step up.
“They’ve at all times stepped up and given us an opportunity, and I believed they did a fantastic job of that tonight.”
Mitchell has been all the pieces for the Cavs in his second postseason for Cleveland. He got here into Monday’s sport averaging 29.6 factors in these playoffs, which is able to lead into an attention-grabbing summer time for him and the Cavs.
He’s eligible to signal a contract extension however has not indicated he’s keen to remain or depart Cleveland.
Allen hasn’t been in a position to play since getting harm in Cleveland’s first-round collection towards the Orlando Magic. He had been dominant earlier than getting harm, averaging 17.0 factors and 13.8 rebounds. He grabbed 20 rebounds within the Cavs’ Sport 2 win over the Magic.
Mitchell didn’t take part within the staff’s morning shootaround, choosing extra remedy and movie work.
He arrived at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse shortly earlier than 5 p.m., two hours earlier than the opening tip and by then figuring out he couldn’t play.
Darius Garland stepped up in Mitchell’s absence, scoring 30 factors and including seven assists in 40 minutes.
“He carried the load for us,” Bickerstaff mentioned. “He put stress on them offensively, made them make powerful choices, after which I believed he made the best play. I believed he did a fantastic job of sparking us and carrying us with spirit.”
The Cavs tried a staff playoff-record 48 3-pointers, a components they could should observe once more if Mitchell is out.
“The identical aggressiveness, the identical perspective,” Garland mentioned when requested what it can take to win Sport 5. “Attempt to get as many 3s up as we are able to, particularly in the event that they’re falling. After which simply hold being aggressive going to the rim.”
Evan Mobley and Caris LeVert added 19 factors apiece for the Cavs, who had been upset that they solely tried seven free throws to 24 for Boston.
“I’m not going to enter it, however that’s ridiculous for the quantity of drives that we’ve,” Garland mentioned. “The quantity of paint assaults. Simply having seven free throws in a basketball sport once they’re getting 24, I don’t know. I’m not one of many refs.
“I’m not a type of guys with a striped shirt, however I understand how many instances I get hit. I understand how many instances my teammates get hit, placed on the ground and we are able to’t reciprocate it. It’s powerful.”
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