Is Donovan Mitchell playing tonight? Injury report for Cavaliers vs Clippers

After a disappointing 1-2 road trip, the Cleveland Cavaliers return home today to host the LA Clippers. Will they have their best player in the lineup? And what does the rest of the injury report look like?

Donovan Mitchell injury update (Updated January 29th)

Note: This will be updated closer to tip-off at 7:00 pm ET with the official word on Donovan Mitchell’s injury status.

There has been no official word on whether Donovan Mitchell, listed as questionable, will play tonight. Cavaliers beat writer Evan Dammarell used the skill of deduction to hazard a guess, at leat to the direction the Cavs are leaning a few hours out:

Donovan Mitchell aggravated his groin on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in a matinee matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans, and he missed three games initially. He returned to play the New York Knicks and hurt it again on the final play of the game, when he drove into the paint and missed a potential game-tying shot (and was fouled, although it was not called).

Mitchell proceeded to miss the next two games, a big road win against the lowly Houston Rockets and a disappointing loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He is without question this team’s best player, which is not a slight towards Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, or Evan Mobley. This is a deep team, but they are best when they have Mitchell on the court.

If he does not return tonight, his next chance will be Tuesday night when the Cavaliers host the Miami Heat.

Who else is listed on the injury report? Are Kawhi Leonard and Paul George playing?

Kevin Love also missed the Cavs’ loss in Oklahoma City and is questionable for tonight with back spasms. It seems more likely that Cleveland lets him sit another game than that Mitchell sits out. Any extra time for Love’s thumb to continue healing is a boon as well.

On the other side of the court, the Clippers will be down multiple key pieces. John Wall is out for an extended period of time nursing an abdominal injury, while Robert Covington is out for personal reasons. It was announced this afternoon that Kawhi Leonard and Paul George will miss the game due to rest. Additionally, Reggie Jackson, Luke Kennard and Marcus Morris are questionable with various injuries.

If Mitchell is able to suit up and play, while the Clippers are down anywhere from four to seven rotation players, it could be a blowout victory for the Cavaliers.