Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers, Celtics
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Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates during the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics.
The Cleveland Cavaliers may be getting their franchise centerpiece back at exactly the right moment.
Seven-time All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell hinted strongly at his return Sunday with a brief but telling message on social media.
“#LetEmKnow,” Mitchell wrote on X.
Shortly afterward, the Cavaliers upgraded Mitchell to probable for Sunday’s high-stakes matchup against the Boston Celtics after the star guard missed the past four games with a right groin strain.
If he returns, Mitchell would rejoin Cleveland just in time for one of the most important games of the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Donovan Mitchell Injury Update Ahead of Cavaliers vs Celtics
Mitchell has been sidelined since suffering the groin injury earlier this month, forcing Cleveland to navigate four games without its leading scorer.
The Cavaliers went 2–2 during his absence, managing to stay afloat while exercising caution with the soft-tissue injury.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson made clear earlier in the week that the organization prioritized patience rather than rushing Mitchell back.
“I hate speculating, I just don’t like to do that,” Atkinson told reporters. “We don’t love soft tissue injuries. … The feedback I’m getting is that it’s not a long-term thing, so that’s good. It’s not like, man, it’s going to be four weeks, you know, a month or a month and a half. It’s none of that.”
Mitchell was already a full participant in practice before Cleveland’s 113–109 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday, another signal that his return was approaching.
Atkinson even acknowledged that if the game had carried playoff stakes, Mitchell likely would have played.
Cavaliers Prioritize Caution With Mitchell’s Groin Injury
Despite Mitchell’s progress, Cleveland’s medical staff chose the cautious route.
“We’re not going to rush anybody,” Atkinson said. “That’s against what I believe in, what Steve [Spiro, Cavs head athletic trainer] believes in. What our organization believes. But you know, you do feel a little sense of urgency.”
A four-day gap between Tuesday’s win over Detroit and Sunday’s marquee matchup against Boston provided additional recovery time.
That break appears to have helped Mitchell move closer to clearance.
Before the injury, Mitchell was producing another All-NBA caliber season, averaging 28.5 points, 5.8 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game.
Cavaliers Building Momentum Before Celtics Clash
Cleveland enters Sunday’s matchup surging.
The Cavaliers have won seven straight home games and are 12–3 since February 1, one of the hottest stretches in the NBA.
Over their last 30 games, Cleveland has compiled 22 wins, giving the team the third-best record in the league during that span.
The Cavaliers currently sit 3.5 games behind Boston in the Eastern Conference standings and just 1.5 games behind the No. 3 New York Knicks.
Sunday’s showdown, therefore, carries significant playoff positioning implications.
Cavaliers Injury Report: Jarrett Allen, Max Strus Updates
While Mitchell appears poised to return, Cleveland will still be without several rotation pieces.
Starting center Jarrett Allen is sidelined with right knee tendinitis. At the same time, veteran wing Max Strus remains out as he continues recovering from offseason surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his foot.
Strus, however, appears close to returning.
He participated in roughly 90 percent of Friday’s practice, according to Cavaliers sideline reporter Serena Winters.
“It makes you feel optimistic, right? You’re starting to get whole,” Atkinson said. “Adding Max is like adding another excellent free agent, if you look at it that way. So really trending positive.”
James Harden Trade Has Supercharged Cavaliers’ Offense
Cleveland’s surge has also coincided with the arrival of James Harden at the trade deadline.
Since acquiring the former MVP, the Cavaliers have gone 8–1, quickly developing chemistry between Harden and Mitchell in the backcourt.
The pairing has given Cleveland a more dynamic offensive attack and multiple elite playmaking options.
“Usually when you have that kind of synergy, it goes well,” Atkinson said, via ESPN’s Jamal Collier. “With them, I haven’t seen any misunderstandings or ‘You should have went there.’ They’ve been pretty locked in on the court and off the court. Couldn’t have gotten better so far.”
With Mitchell potentially returning against Boston, the Cavaliers may finally be approaching full strength at the most important stage of the season.
And judging by his social media message, Cleveland’s star guard appears ready to remind the rest of the Eastern Conference exactly what that means.