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[Saba Sports News] Sunday’s TNT broadcast caught the exact moment Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell appeared to aggravate his ankle injury during Game 4 against the Indiana Pacers.
Mitchell did not return for the second half of the contest at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, as he was ruled out with a left ankle injury.
A backboard camera on the TNT broadcast showed Mitchell attempting to warm up just before the third quarter began. As he pulled up for a jump shot from the top of the key, he immediately appeared to be in discomfort, favoring his left ankle.
The six-time All-Star had previously missed the final four games of the regular season with an injury to the same ankle, and it’s believed he may have reaggravated it during Sunday’s loss.
When asked about Mitchell’s availability for Game 5, Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson admitted he had “no idea.” Mitchell is expected to undergo an MRI to assess the extent of the damage.
The injury only made a brutal night worse for Cleveland. The Cavaliers were already being ridiculed for their historically poor first half, and Mitchell’s injury in a blowout only compounded the team’s misery.
The Pacers went on to cruise to a 129-109 win and now sit one victory away from reaching the Eastern Conference Finals.