Donovan Mitchell Current Status For Cavs-Magic

Coming out of the All-Star Break is when a team is supposed to be the healthiest and most rested they’ll get during the grueling NBA season. The Cleveland Cavaliers were looking forward to just that after missing Darius Garland and Evan Mobley for a month and a half.

However, those aspirations have turned into fears that they may be without the team’s MVP for the first game out of the break.

Donovan Mitchell was officially ruled as QUESTIONABLE with an illness Wednesday evening putting his status for Cleveland’s showdown with the Orlando Magic in jeopardy, per NBA’s Injury Report.

Jan 22, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) dribbles as Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) defends during the second quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports © Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Losing Mitchell right out of the gates would be a massive blow to the Cavaliers for multiple reasons. For one, the Cavs have a fairly difficult back-to-back against the Magic and Philadelphia 76ers this Thursday and Friday.

While Orlando has fallen off a bit since their hot start to the season, they still have a very talented roster. Then there is the 76ers who, even without Joel Embiid, snapped Cleveland’s nine-game winning streak three days before the All-Star Break.

Losing Spida would also be an issue because of how well he’s playing this season. Wherever you want to rank him in the MVP ladder, the stats don’t lie. Mitchell is averaging career highs in points (28.4), rebounds (5.4), assists (6.3), steals (1.9), and blocks (0.5).

The Cavaliers have proven time and time again that when a player is out, someone else steps up. However, Cleveland has also still had Mitchell during those games.