Cavs Hoping Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen Back for Next Week

CLEVELAND — The hamstring injuries to Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland are not considered serious, but in the first three games, the Cavaliers’ starting guards have played just one together.

Garland has missed two straight with a strained hamstring, while Mitchell was dealing with hamstring soreness and sat out Saturday’s 125-113 home loss to the Pacers. Throw in starting center Jarrett Allen (ankle) and it makes things especially difficult.

I asked Mitchell why he winced at the end of the Cavs’ loss to the Thunder on Friday and he chalked it up to cramps in both legs. “Just gotta hydrate more,” he said.

There is chance all three (Mitchell, Garland and Allen) could be available for Tuesday’s game against the Knicks. If not, at least Mitchell should go. That’s just an educated guess, not anything from the team. 

The Cavs play the Knicks again the next night in New York. It’d be nice for Cleveland to have at least one — if not two — for some early-season biggies next week.

“This team hasn’t had an opportunity to be whole, and I think that matters,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said.