Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell seemingly not concerned with ankle scare

CLEVELAND — Cavaliers Nation held its breath and then was able to let out a collective “phew.” All was a result of Donovan Mitchell going down in the third quarter of Sunday’s home loss to the Sacramento Kings.

Mitchell clutched at his ankle, then limped to the locker room. He walked under his own power but looked as if he could barely put any weight on his left ankle.

A few moments later, though, he emerged, putting up a few shots during a timeout and hitting the exercise bike. Mitchell returned to the game minutes after that — albeit to no avail, as the Cavs (62-16) failed to officially clinch the top playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.

“Never been better,” Mitchell joked when asked if the ankle was sore. “Just going to let tomorrow be tomorrow and then go from there.”

The Cavaliers will have another chance to clinch the East’s top spot on Tuesday, when they host Chicago. They only need a win to do it. Nothing second-seeded Boston does will matter.

But they may have to try to beat the Bulls without their leading scorer. 

“If I’m able to go, I’m able to go,” Mitchell said. “Obviously, a little hobbled after the first adrenaline rush. But I’m trying to win. I’m trying to help my team win any way possible. I want to get the one seed and go from there.”

Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said health is the priority as the team heads to the postseason. He had a chat with Mitchell after the injury.

“I said, ‘Listen, if it’s even 5% where you’re a little weak or whatever, or it’s bothering you, you gotta tell me so we can get you out,” Atkinson said. “We’ve got multiple games to try to clinch this thing. Don’t have to do it tonight.’ He said it felt fine.

“My experience with this, if a guy plays the whole fourth quarter, he said he felt fine … I trust him. That might be the most positive thing of the night. He’ll get checked out. I don’t anticipate it being anything, quite honestly.”

Overall, it seems the Cavaliers aren’t too worried about officially clinching. They do realize they’ll have to play better than they did on Sunday, and perhaps a few games before that, to lock up the No. 1 spot in the East.

“Get it on Tuesday,” Mitchell said. “It’s the equivalent of a playoff loss at the crib. How do you respond?”

As for the ankle, it’s fairly clear it’s a day-by-day ordeal.

“We’re not going to sit here and assess the future until we figure out what’s ahead,” Mitchell said. “So right now, obviously, I’m going to be smart, but figure out when it gets to it and be ready.”