The Cleveland Cavaliers play the second leg of a back-to-back on Wednesday against the Milwaukee Bucks. With something of a lighter matchup on deck, it appears the team is prioritizing the health of some of its stars.
Star guard Donovan Mitchell (groin) and big man Evan Mobley (injury maintenance) have been ruled out for tonight’s game.
Likewise, guard James Harden (thumb) is questionable to play. Per the team, he suffered a “non-displaced fracture of the distal phalanx” in the thumb on his non-shooting hand and will undergo treatment with continued evaluation.
Mitchell has led the Cavaliers admirably this season, averaging a career-high 28.5 points to go along with 5.8 assists. Meanwhile, Mobley has continued his run of two-way excellence when on the floor with 17.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, providing a team-high 1.8 blocks as well. Their absence will be felt, and it’s clear that keeping Mobley healthy for the stretch run will be a focus after dealing with injuries this season.
As for Harden, the former MVP has appeared in seven games since being traded to Cleveland. Over this small sample, he averages 18.9 points and 8.0 assists, the latter of which is a team-best. If he plays tonight, he’ll take on an even larger role as a scorer in Mitchell’s absence and has proven more than capable with such responsibilities as a member of the Clippers earlier in the season.
The Cavaliers are notably 6-1 since acquiring Harden, with the lone loss coming to the Oklahoma City Thunder. They’re 37-22 overall on the campaign, good for fourth in the Eastern Conference.
For tonight’s matchup against the Bucks, Cleveland is listed as a 2.5-point road favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
