Is Donovan Mitchell playing tonight? Latest injury update for Celtics vs. Cavs

The Cavaliers have just a few weeks left to try and catch the Celtics in the standings. Will Donovan Mitchell be available tonight in their head-to-head matchup?

The Celtics have been slipping. They held the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference from Dec. 23 until Feb. 26, when the streaking Milwaukee Bucks lept past them. Boston is just 6-4 over their last 10 games with a point differential of plus-1.6 per 100 possessions, a far cry from their season-long number of plus-5.4.

All that has opened the door for teams like the Philadelphia 76ers (3.0 games back) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (5.5 games back) to potentially jump up to the No. 2 seed and grab homecourt advantage in the second round of the playoffs. The Cavs take on the Celtics tonight for the fourth and final time this season with an opportunity to make up a full game in the standings.

Will Donovan Mitchell be available to play against the Celtics?

Mitchell is listed as questionable in the NBA’s official injury report, with a finger sprain on his left hand. He sustained the injury in Saturday’s win over the Detroit Pistons, leaving the game in the third quarter and not returning.

It goes without saying that the Cavs could really use Mitchell in the starting lineup tonight. He’s been the team’s primary offensive engine all season long and he’s been especially hot against the Celtics. Across their three previous matchups this season, he’s averaging 36.7 points, 4.7 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game on a 61.3 true shooting percentage. That includes 44 points in a four-point loss to the Celtics last Wednesday.

If Mitchell is unable to go Caris LeVert would likely take his place in the starting lineup, with much more offensive responsibility falling to Darius Garland.

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