Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell will miss Monday’s Game 4 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics due to a calf strain.
the The Cavaliers have announced their starting lineup In the hour before, Mitchell, who had previously been listed as questionable with a calf strain, was reported out. Center Jarrett Allen will remain out of the lineup due to a rib injury that has sidelined him since Game 5 against the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs.
The Cavaliers will start Darius Garland, Caris LeVert, Max Strus, Isaac Okoro and Evan Mobley on Monday night. The absence of Mitchell and Allen is a big blow for the Cavs, who enter Monday trailing in the series 2-1.
A five-time All-Star, Mitchell is considered Cleveland’s best player and has thrived in the postseason. In 10 postseason playoff games, Mitchell averaged 29.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 47.6% from the floor and 35.4% from 3-point range.
Mitchell had scored at least 29 points in each of the previous three playoff games against the Celtics, including 29 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in Cleveland’s second upset in Boston. It is not immediately clear when or if Mitchell can return to the series.
The continued absence of Allen — a 2022 All-Star — also puts Cleveland at a significant disadvantage. In Cleveland’s starting presence, Allen averaged 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game during the regular season.
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