Cleveland Cavaliers’ standout Donovan Mitchell remains resolute on “prioritizing the playoffs” amidst grappling with multiple injuries late in the NBA season, as reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.
Charania delved into Mitchell’s stance during a discussion on FanDuel TV’s Run It Back:
Bleacher Report writes that having sat out nine of the Cavaliers’ past 11 games due to a bone bruise in his left knee and subsequent nasal fracture surgery, the five-time All-Star appears to be adopting a more cautious approach towards his recovery.
It appears that Mitchell might have hurried his return when he hit the court for Cleveland’s 116-95 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on March 13.
Cleveland, currently holding the third spot in the Eastern Conference, enjoys a comfortable lead over the Orlando Magic by two games, securing at least home-court advantage in the initial round and maintaining a five-game advantage over the seventh-placed Miami Heat.
Mitchell’s availability during the playoffs is undeniably crucial for the Cavaliers. Despite effectively managing several injuries throughout the roster thus far, being undermanned in a seven-game series could be detrimental.
The team aims to reintegrate the 6’3″ guard into the lineup a tad earlier before the playoffs commence, allowing him to shake off any rust and regain his sharpness for the initial round.
