The Cleveland Cavaliers have been plagued with injuries all season. However, despite the health issues affecting their depth, they have managed to stay afloat, courtesy of their All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell. But with the season entering its final stretch, the Cavs suffered a major blow as Mitchell went down with a knee injury.

Earlier today, the team announced that Spida had received a Platelet-Rich Plasma injection to treat a bone bruise in his left knee and would miss the next three games. Additionally, the update mentioned that his status would be re-evaluated over the weekend. However, in a now-deleted x-post by FanDuel’s Run It Back, Shams Charania of The Athletic updated that “he’s going to be through the week.”

By this timeline, he should be available for the home game against the Brooklyn Nets on March 10. This would mean that the injury would keep him out for five games. The timing of this injury is less than ideal for the Cavs, as they go against the title contenders, including the Celtics, Hawks, and Timberwolves, during this stretch. Can the Cavs manage until Spida is back in action?

How will Donovan Mitchell’s absence impact the Cavs?

The team scores 4.8 points more per game with him on the floor compared to when he’s off. While his defense isn’t his strongest suit by any means, his efforts on that end of the ball are remarkable as well. Cleveland holds opponents to 8.3 fewer points when he is on the court. Moreover, the 27-year-old leads the team in both points and assists per game. Without his 28 points per game, Darius Garland, Caris LeVert, and the rest of the supporting cast will be expected to pick up the slack.

The Cavs do not have the best track record without Donovan Mitchell in the game. In his 13 absences this season, Cleveland has only managed a 7-6 record. This is far from reassuring for a team harboring championship aspirations. In the last two games he missed, the Cavs secured a win against the bottom-feeding Detroit Pistons and fell to the New York Knicks. Nonetheless, their third-ranked defense, spearheaded by the dominant presence of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen in the paint, should be able to hold the fort while Spida recovers.

Do you think the Cleveland Cavaliers will be able to hold onto their third spot in the East until Mitchell returns? Let us know in the comments!

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