Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell left out of East All-Star starting lineup

Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell has had another All-Star season, and let there be no doubt, he will be an All-Star.

He just won’t be starting.

The All-Star Game is returning to an East vs. West format this season and the starters were revealed on Thursday. Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton and Milwaukee Bucks shooting guard Damian Lillard were voted backcourt starters in the East, with Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid in the frontcourt.

Without a doubt, Haliburton deserves to be a starter — as arguably the best guard in the East in the first half of the season. But you could make the case for Mitchell or New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, also a point guard, to start ahead of Lillard.

That said, Lillard is certainly deserving as a first-year member of the East’s second-best team (so far).

Mitchell, 27, is averaging 27.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.9 steals, shooting 46.0 percent from the field and 34.2 percent on 3-pointers. He carries NBA career averages of  24.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.4 steals with the Cavs and Utah Jazz. That includes a career-high 71 points last season against the Chicago Bulls.

Cleveland (26-16) had won eight straight, with Mitchell as the centerpiece, before losing to Lillard, Antetokounmpo and the Bucks in Milwaukee. The teams are scheduled to do it again, in Milwaukee, on Friday.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, Denver Nuggets starter Nikola Jokic, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic and Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander were voted starters in the West.

The All-Star Game will be held Feb. 18 in Indianapolis.