The Cleveland Cavaliers are heading into the second night of a back-to-back with a bit of urgency and a lot on the line. After dropping Sunday’s game to the Boston Celtics, Cleveland now sits at 12-9 on the season - a far cry from the 64-win juggernaut they were just a year ago. Monday night, they’ll look to bounce back on the road against an Indiana Pacers team that’s struggling mightily at 4-16.
Oddsmakers have the Cavs listed as a 6.5-point favorite, which could be a promising sign that Donovan Mitchell is expected to suit up. While the team hasn’t officially released its injury report yet, there’s reason to believe Mitchell will be in action - and Cleveland will need him.
Mitchell has played in 19 of the Cavs’ 21 games so far this season, missing just two, one of which came on the front end of a back-to-back earlier in the year against Miami. Since then, Cleveland had another back-to-back set on November 23 and 24, and Mitchell played both nights.
That trend suggests he’s trending toward playing Monday, especially with Jarrett Allen sidelined for at least a week due to a finger injury. Allen’s absence leaves a significant hole in the frontcourt, and Mitchell’s scoring punch becomes even more critical without their defensive anchor in the paint.
Mitchell’s production this season has been nothing short of elite. He’s averaging 29.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game while shooting an efficient 50.3% from the field and 39.1% from three.
When he’s on the floor, the Cavs are 11-8 - solid, if unspectacular. Without him, they’ve split their two games.
That’s not a huge sample size, but it underscores just how much of the Cavs’ offense runs through their star guard.
The bigger concern for Cleveland isn’t just Mitchell’s availability - it’s the team’s overall performance through the first quarter of the season. After dominating the Eastern Conference last year, the Cavs have come out flatter than expected. They currently rank 14th in offensive rating and 13th in net rating, numbers that don’t match the talent on this roster or the expectations coming into the season.
Monday’s matchup against Indiana isn’t just another game - it’s a gut check. The Pacers may be near the bottom of the standings, but no road game in the NBA is a given, especially on the second night of a back-to-back. For Cleveland, this is a chance to reassert their identity, stabilize their record, and build some momentum heading into December.
If Mitchell is in uniform, expect him to come out aggressive. With Allen out and the Cavs needing a spark, it’s likely to be Mitchell’s show - and he’s proven time and again he can carry that load.