Donovan Mitchell has missed the last two games for the Cleveland Cavaliers due to an illness. With that, the Cavs lost both of those games and started the post-All-Star Break stretch on a sour note.
Thankfully for the team and fans, Mitchell will be back in action and is listed as AVAILABLE on Sunday evening as the Cavs take on the Washington Wizards. He was listed as probable throughout the day but the official word that Mitchell would play came when the team posted the starting lineup on social media.
The Cavaliers are lucky to have Mitchell returning for their game against the Wizards. In the three matchups the Cavs and Wizards have played this season, Mitchell has averaged 29.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists.
Mitchell has been playing an elite level of basketball this season. He’s averaging career-highs in points (28.4), rebounds (5.4), and assists (6.3) while shooting 47% from the floor. These stats have put him in the MVP conversation, but realistically he should be higher for how Cleveland has looked when he’s not on the floor.
Cleveland can use this game to get back on track with Mitchell returning to the floor and the Cavs playing a team that is playing under.500 basketball.
The last two games have been very unlike the Cavaliers brand of basketball fans have been used to seeing. Cleveland’s three-point shooting, something that propelled them into the second seed in the Eastern Conference, has all but disappeared since the All-Star Break and the defense has also struggled.
Hopefully, Mitchell’s return can stabilize this.