Tuesday's victory over the New York Knicks felt like a turning point for the Cleveland Cavaliers. They demonstrated that their revamped roster could compete with the top teams in the conference, while also recognizing that there's still room for improvement.
However, the Cavs have hit a rough patch since then. The team revealed that James Harden suffered a thumb injury during the win, Donovan Mitchell is dealing with a groin strain, and their perimeter defense faltered in a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.
The standings aren't the only place the Cavs are feeling the impact. Three key rotation players have been added to the injury list: Keon Ellis with a broken left index finger, and both Dean Wade and Dennis Schroder with right ankle sprains.
The extent of these injuries remains uncertain for now.
The biggest concern is Mitchell, who is missing his second consecutive game with a groin strain. This seems to be a recurring issue for him around this time of year.
For the Cavs to meet their playoff aspirations, Mitchell needs to be at his peak. Resting him for several games, if necessary, might be the wisest course of action.
More updates on his condition are expected Friday evening when head coach Kenny Atkinson addresses the media.
Harden, on the other hand, plans to play through his thumb injury and could be back on the court for the upcoming game.
The addition of Ellis, Wade, and Schroder to the injury report is troubling. Each of them plays a crucial role that's not easily filled.
As the Cavs prepare for Friday's matchup with Detroit, they'll be hoping to see some of these players back in action. At the very least, it's a setback to be without their star player and potentially several other key contributors.