What happened to Donovan Mitchell? Massive injury concern adds to Cavaliers’ misery in Game 4 humiliation

Donovan Mitchell sat out the entire second half of Game 4 against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, raising major concerns among Cavaliers fans. Cleveland was overwhelmed in the first half, as Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers stormed into halftime with a dominant 80-39 lead.

What shocked fans even more was Mitchell’s absence from both the court and the bench after the break. The star guard didn't return for the second half, with Ty Jerome starting in his place. Although Mitchell was seen getting shots up during halftime, he appeared to be in visible discomfort and eventually headed back to the locker room.

The Cavaliers later announced that Donovan Mitchell was dealing with a left ankle injury and listed him as doubtful to return. In 20 first-half minutes, he recorded 12 points, one rebound, one steal and one block, shooting just 3 of 11 from the field, including 1 of 5 from 3-point range.

Kenny Atkinson offers update on Donovan Mitchell's injury

Donovan Mitchell did not return from the locker room for the second half, playing no further part in the game as the Cleveland Cavaliers fell to a 129-109 loss against the Indiana Pacers. The defeat puts Cleveland in a deep 3-1 hole in the series, with every remaining game now a must-win.

After the game, Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson addressed Mitchell’s injury and offered little optimism. He confirmed that Mitchell will undergo an MRI on Monday and admitted he has “no idea” about the star guard’s availability for Game 5.

Game 5 between the Cavaliers and Pacers is set for Tuesday and coach Atkinson will be hoping Mitchell recovers in time to suit up. One silver lining for Cleveland is that two of the remaining three games in the series will be played on their home court, offering a potential advantage as they fight to stay alive.

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