Donovan Mitchell to Start in Game 5 Despite Ankle Injury

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell will be in the starting lineup for Cleveland’s must-win Game 5 against the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night. This decision comes despite Mitchell re-aggravating a sprained left ankle during the second half of Game 4 on Sunday.

The No. 4-seeded Pacers currently lead the series 3-1 and can advance to the Eastern Conference finals if they secure a victory in Cleveland, where they have already won twice. Mitchell participated in the morning shootaround and expressed optimism about his condition, as he showed support for his team using the hashtag #LetEmKnow on social media.

Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson stated, “We know the situation we’re in. I can’t give you a definitive but my hope is that he plays.” Mitchell had undergone an MRI on Monday that confirmed his ankle injury. He had previously missed the second half of Game 4 due to pain experienced during warm-ups.

Mitchell initially sustained the injury on April 6 when he stepped on the foot of Sacramento’s Keon Ellis before rolling his ankle. He missed the last four games of the regular season due to this injury but returned to the playoffs averaging 28.9 points, including five games with over 30 points.

The Cavaliers have faced a series of injuries this postseason, with Darius Garland missing four games due to a sprained toe and Evan Mobley also recovering from an ankle injury. “I’m banged up, we all are. It’s tough, but that’s what the playoffs are,” Mitchell remarked after a previous game where he scored 48 points, despite the Cavs losing.

As the series shifts back to Cleveland, Game 5 is scheduled for 7 p.m., putting the spotlight on the injury status of Mitchell and the overall health of the Cavaliers team as they look to avoid elimination.