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Donovan Mitchell injury: Cleveland Cavs rule out All-Star vs Bulls due to ankle sprain
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- Donovan Mitchell injury: Cleveland Cavs rule out All-Star vs Bulls due to ankle sprain
The Cavaliers have ruled out All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell for Tuesday night, when they'll have a chance to clinch the No. 1 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference against the visiting Chicago Bulls .
The Cavs updated Mitchell's status Monday afternoon.
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Mitchell suffered a left ankle sprain in the third quarter of Sunday's 120-113 loss to the Sacramento Kings . He returned to the game later during the same quarter and played all 12 minutes of the fourth quarter. He finished with 19 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the field (1 of 6 on 3-pointers), seven rebounds, six assists and two steals in 33 minutes.
While Mitchell ran to the defensive end of the floor after making a layup, he stepped on the foot of Kings guard Keon Ellis . Mitchell fell and held his left leg on the sideline. After medical personnel checked him, he limped to the locker room with 9:54 remaining in the third quarter. He returned to the action with 3:02 left in the quarter.
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Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) reacts after a play against the Sacramento Kings on April 6, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
After the game, Mitchell limped in the locker room and conceded the injury could worsen if he were to push it too much.
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"I mean, yeah. I mean, like I said, we'll let tomorrow be tomorrow," Mitchell said. "We're all not going to sit here and assess the future until we figure out what's ahead. So right now, obviously, I'm going to be smart, but figure out when it gets to it and be ready."
Donovan Mitchell injury: Cavs must save All-Star guard for the playoffs and from himself if his ankle is any bother
Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson expressed optimism about Mitchell's injury.
"I said, 'Even if it's a little bit [painful], you gotta tell me,'" Atkinson said. "And he didn't really. But he'll get checked out, and I don't anticipate it being anything, quite honestly."
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Still, it behooves the Cavs (62-16) to be cautious with Mitchell, their undisputed top player and leader, as the playoffs loom. They would clinch the No. 1 seed in the East with just one win in their final four regular-season games.
A loss by the second-place and defending NBA champion Boston Celtics (58-20) would also give the Cavs the East's top seed. The Celtics visit the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.
The Bulls (36-42) ruled out guard Coby White , their leading scorer, for Tuesday's game and listed rest as the reason.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs give Donovan Mitchell injury update, rule out star vs Bulls
