The Cavs’ Injury situation has been Released with Donovan Mitchell, with more   ahead of Nuggets Clash

The Cavaliers will be missing Donovan Mitchell and several other key players when they face Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets on Sunday.

Following a difficult start to the season, the Cleveland Cavaliers must be feeling better about themselves following two good wins in a row. With the Denver Nuggets on the horizon, the Cavs need all the positive energy they can get to compete with an offensive juggernaut like Nikola Jokic and company. The basketball gods, however, appear to have had a different opinion, as Cleveland will once again be undermanned when they face the defending NBA Champions.

The Cavs will be missing Donovan Mitchell (hamstring), Isaac Okoro (knee), Ty Jerome (ankle), Ricky Rubio (personal), and Isaiah Mobley (NBA G League Assignment) for the game. The absence of Rubio and Mobley should come as no surprise. Cleveland is giving Rubio as much time as possible to address his mental health, while Mobley is presently on the road with the Cleveland Charge, the Cavs’ NBA G League franchise.

Meanwhile, the Mitchell news is a little distressing for Cleveland because it is the second game in a row that Mitchell has been missing due to a hamstring injury. It will also be Mitchell’s third game missing due to this persistent injury, but the Cavs have no choice but to err on the side of caution given how serious and unclear the recovery process can be. When Mitchell returns to the starting lineup, it will be only the sixth time the Cavs have had their entire starting lineup together. But not for tonight’s game against the Nuggets.

Again, not having Mitchell at the time is unfortunate given how much Cleveland could need his high-octane scoring prowess versus Denver. More annoyingly, the Cavs’ lack of Okoro against the Nuggets might be a game-changer on the perimeter.

Okoro has now missed six games in a row after scoring five points and dishing out two assists in a loss to the Indiana Pacers in early November. Cleveland head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said the team hasn’t set a specific timeline for Okoro’s rehabilitation, but they’re hoping he’ll be back sooner rather than later.

Sure, the fact that Denver will be without standout guard Jamal Murray due to a strained right hamstring helps. Murray’s absence will hamper the Nuggets’ ability to provide perimeter pressure. But that doesn’t take away from the pressure that Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Michael Porter Jr., Reggie Jackson, Peyton Watson, and Christian Braun can give. Caris LeVert, Max Strus, Dean Wade, Craig Porter Jr., and even Evan Mobley will have a difficult time slowing Denver down from the outside. However, given the threat that Jokic, the best player in the world, poses, Mobley may find himself with his hands full all over the court.

Whether healthy or not, Cleveland would always have difficult sledding against the Nuggets given Denver’s pedigree. The Cavs aim to be the Nuggets, especially with an exceptional big man like Jokic leading the charge. This game could be a learning experience for Cleveland in terms of how to effectively utilize Mobley as their extraordinary big man.

Whether healthy or not, Cleveland would always have difficult sledding against the Nuggets given Denver’s pedigree. The Cavs aim to be the Nuggets, especially with an exceptional big man like Jokic leading the charge. This game could be a learning experience for Cleveland in terms of how to effectively utilize Mobley as their extraordinary big man.