Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers will be sidelined for Thursday night’s game against the Chicago Bulls due to a bruised left eye, the team announced. The injury occurred during a practice collision with teammate Evan Mobley.
Mitchell played through discomfort in Tuesday’s 122-114 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, scoring 19 points on 4-of-14 shooting. He indicated to reporters after the game that his vision was impaired. Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson described the injury as “nothing serious” but stated the team will allow time for the swelling to subside.
Mitchell, currently eighth in the NBA in scoring with an average of 28 points per game, is enjoying a career year, shooting 47.9% from the field. He likewise contributes 5.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. The Cavaliers entered Thursday’s game with a record of 42-27, holding fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
The Cavaliers trail the New York Knicks by 2.5 games for third place in the Eastern Conference and lead the Toronto Raptors by 2.5 games for fifth. Cleveland and Dallas recently completed a home-and-home series, with the Cavaliers winning the first game 138-105 on March 13, led by 29 points from Mobley and 24 from Mitchell. Cooper Flagg scored 25 points for the Mavericks in that contest. The teams are scheduled to play again Sunday in Cleveland.
The Cavaliers’ recent success includes a 24-10 record since December 29. James Harden has been a key contributor, averaging 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists. The Mavericks, meanwhile, have struggled, losing nine of their last ten games and posting a 3-19 record since January 24.
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