The Portland Trail Blazers' luck avoiding facing some of the best players on opposing teams will continue Tuesday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Cleveland All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell has been ruled out with left groin injury management.
In the Blazers' last three games, they have not had to face Memphis star guard Ja Morant, Denver superstar center Nikola Jokic and Boston All-Star guard Jaylen Brown, plus stars Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.
The Blazers took advantage of their good fortune by defeating Memphis 115-99 on Wednesday and Denver 128-109 on Friday. However, they lost 129-116 to Boston on Sunday.
Going 2-1 against that group has allowed the Blazers (32-40) to remain in the hunt for a play-in berth in the Western Conference.
Cavaliers Jazz Basketball
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) reacts after a play during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)AP
The Blazers enter Monday 2½ games back of Dallas (34-37) and Phoenix (34-37), tied for 10th.
Dallas plays Monday night at the Brooklyn Nets and the Suns host the Milwaukee Bucks.
Defeating Cleveland (57-14)without Mitchell is certainly not a given. The Cavaliers, who have lost four of their last five games, are 6-0 without Mitchell and favored by seven points at the Blazers.
Mitchell missed Cleveland’s 133-129 overtime win over the Blazers at home on March 2.
-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)