Donovan Mitchell Out Against Pacers, Cavs News
![Donovan Mitchell Out Against Pacers, Cavs News Donovan Mitchell Out Against Pacers, Cavs News](https://www.si.com/.image/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/MjA1MDk0NDIyOTI3Mzg2MjQ0/donovan-mitchell-mar-13-2024.jpg)
Donovan Mitchell all but confirmed this after the Cleveland Cavaliers fell to the Houston Rockets on Saturday evening, but the All-Star shooting guard will be OUT as the Cavs take on the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.
However, the injury that is keeping Mitchell sidelined (per NBA's Injury Report) is a nasal fracture.
Mitchell caught an elbow from Cavs center Tristan Thompson as he came down from grabbing a rebound. Mitchell immediately fell to the ground grabbing at his face and Clevleand's head trainer rushed over to get a towel over it. He did briefly return to the game but had a tissue in his nose attempting to contain the bleeding.
This fracture is the latest injury that has ruined Mitchell's MVP-level season. Mitchell admitted that he returned too soon from his knee bone bruise and said "I thought I was ready." He's averaging just 13.5 points shot 31% (9-29) from the field, 41% (7-17) from behind the arc, and has visibly had trouble driving to the hoop.
![](https://www.si.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cg_xy_center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620%2Cx_1813%2Cy_667/MjA1MDk0NDIyOTI3Mzg2MjQ0/donovan-mitchell-mar-13-2024.jpg)
Monday against the Pacers will be the 10th game Mitchell has missed since the All-Star Break and his absence has clearly affected the Cavaliers as a team.
As much as the Cavs need Mitchell on the floor right now, they need him for the playoffs even more. The team needs to figure out a way to hold a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference while Mitchell gets healthy.