Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell Upgraded To Questionable

The Cavaliers are about to embark on one of their toughest stretches of the season, but fear not, there may be some help on the way.

That’s because star guard Donovan Mitchell has been upgraded from out to “questionable” for Wednesday’s road game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Granted, that’s not a guarantee that Mitchell will play (far from it), but at least it’s not a guarantee that he won’t.

Mitchell has missed the previous seven games with a left knee bone bruise. Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said that Mitchell has been progressing and even putting in some work on the court.

The Cavs (41-24) are 3-4 in that stretch, including home wins over the Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves. But they’ve lost two straight and looked pretty bad Sunday at home against the below-average Brooklyn Nets.

Either way, Mitchell’s return can’t come soon enough.

The Cavs visit the Pelicans on Wednesday, the Houston Rockets on Saturday, and the Indiana Pacers on Monday. Then they get to return home to face the defending Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat, before facing the Wolves again, this time in Minnesota, a week from Friday (3/22).

That is what’s known as five toughies. 

If Mitchell doesn’t play vs. the Pelicans, there are two days off between each the Rockets game and the Pacers game. So on the bright side, that’s a little extra time for his knee to heal. Theoretically, anyway.

On the not-so-bright side, Cavs guard Max Strus (knee strain), power forward Evan Mobley (ankle sprain) and forward Dean Wade (personal reasons) remain out vs. the Pelicans.

Meanwhile, New Orleans (39-25) is at full strength and like the Cavs in the Eastern Conference, is battling for playoff positioning out West.