Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star Donovan Mitchell will miss Monday’s Game 4 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics with a calf strain.
The The Cavaliers announced their starting lineup Mitchell, who was previously listed as questionable with a calf strain, was absent an hour before tipoff. Starting center Jared Allen will be out of the lineup since Game 5 against the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs with a rib injury.
The Cavaliers will start Darius Garland, Carys LeVert, Max Struss, Isaac Okoro and Evan Mobley on Monday night. The absence of Mitchell and Allen is a significant blow for the Cavs, who enter Monday trailing the series 2-1.
A five-time All-Star, Mitchell is Cleveland’s best player and has thrived in the postseason. In 10 playoff games this postseason, Mitchell is averaging 29.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals 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 a 29-point, eight-assist, seven-rebound effort in Cleveland’s Game 2 upset in Boston. It was not immediately clear when Mitchell would be able to return to the series.
The continued absence of Allen — a 2022 All-Star — also puts Cleveland at a significant disadvantage. Cleveland’s primary post presence, Allen averaged 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks during the regular season.
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