Donovan Mitchell's ankle injury jeopardizes Cavaliers' playoff chances

In the United States, Donovan Mitchell, a star player for the Cleveland Cavaliers, sustained a left ankle injury during the halftime warm-ups of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference playoffs against the Indiana Pacers on May 11, 2025. The Cavaliers faced a significant setback as they were already behind in the series with a 3-1 deficit and lost the game with a score of 129-109. During the first half, Mitchell managed to score 12 points but was unable to play in the second half due to his ankle injury. The Cavaliers had a rough night, trailing 80-39 at halftime, with the Pacers gaining a substantial advantage. The injury came as a huge blow, especially as the Cavaliers were considered among the best teams in the NBA this season, securing the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Coach Kenny Atkinson announced that Mitchell would undergo an MRI to assess the severity of his injury but could not provide any details about how serious it might be. With Mitchell's absence, the team's chances of coming back in Game 5 in Cleveland were severely diminished, especially considering that they already dealt with injuries to players Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and DeAndre Hunter during the series. Furthermore, the Pacers took advantage of the situation to secure their lead in the series despite missing one of their key players, Bennedict Mathurin, who was ejected early in the game. The prevailing sentiments from Pacers coach Rick Carlisle underlined his team's determination to continue fighting and proving their doubters wrong, while the Cavaliers faced an uncertain future regarding their star's health. The series was pivotal for both teams, with the Pacers looking to close it out in Game 5, a matchup already marked by their previous victories in Cleveland.