標籤: Donovan

The Los Angeles Clippers took a big risk ahead of this year’s NBA trade deadline when they traded talented and affordable center Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers for a first-round pick. The risk was in the fact that the selection was top four safe, and with one of the worst records in the league, Indy had a great chance to reach the first four spots.

But he did not do so. They moved up to No. 5 in the NBA Draft Lottery, meaning the Clippers will now have the No. 5 pick next month. Or maybe not. According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, LA has plenty of options, and he suggested trading the pick to get a star to pair with Kawhi Leonard next year isn’t out of the question.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some potential trade ideas if the Clippers considered moving the No. 5 pick for short- and long-term gains.

Atlanta Hawks picks 8th and 23rd

The Clippers could certainly use the No. 5 pick in exchange for a proven star. But what if they took an NFL-style approach and tried to get a higher pick in Round 1? Many believe the class of 2026 is one of the best in a very long time, so if there was ever a year to go down and get more picks, this is it.

The Atlanta Hawks have a pair of eight-and-23. Moving back just three spots and gaining another pick in the top 25 to get two shots at landing potential stars isn’t a bad idea for a team with only one obvious star who is always waiting for an injury to happen.

Donovan Mitchell

On Friday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers can punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals with a win over the Detroit Pistons. If they don’t do that, and Donovan Mitchell doesn’t sign a max extension he will be eligible for this summer, there is speculation the Cavs could trade the seven-time All-Star.

While the fifth pick won’t be enough to get Mitchell, it’s a great starting point that will certainly tempt Cleveland. They can use the pick to get a cheap replacement for the guard, and the Clippers will have a very interesting one-two, Leonard-Mitchell, punch next season.

paolo banchero

Another route the Clippers could take would be to dangle the No. 5 pick to the Orlando Magic and see if he can be part of a trade package for forward Paolo Banchero. It feels like the Banchero and Magic relationship has hit its stride after blowing a 3-1 lead over the Pistons in the opening round of the playoffs.

A combo with Leonard would be strong, but Banchero would also give them a piece to build around long-term once Leonard is gone for a long time.

Trey Murphy III and Yves Missy

Over the past two seasons, New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III has emerged as one of the rising young stars in the league. While NO is hesitant to trade him, after another poor season, moving him for the No. 5 pick in June would be a return worth pulling the trigger.

While the 25-year-old has plenty of upside and is signed for three more seasons, the Pelicans should also include center Yves Messi in the deal to give the Clippers a good replacement for Zubac next season.

Oklahoma City Thunder picks 12 and 17, plus Isaiah Joe

One last option for the Clippers, if they trade the No. 5 pick, would be for the Oklahoma City Thunder’s selections at picks 12 and 17 in Round 1. OKC doesn’t have many roster spots, so they need to move picks and players. Moving two picks and backup guard Isaiah Joe will open up space and give them another elite prospect to go with their young core.

The trade will give the Clippers two top 20 prospects and a good, young reserve guard in Joe. Those three players could be part of LA’s new core going forward.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Billy Donovan walked away from the Chicago Bulls after six seasons, and the coaching market is already taking notice. Their coaching job is not done and with several jobs open across the league, the next few weeks could be very interesting.

According to ESPN senior NBA insider Shams Charania, speaking on 104.3 The Score’s Mulally & Hoff Show, Donovan is one of the most respected free agent coaches available right now, and his name will soon appear in searches.

“Definitely very respected. I mean, his name is going to be included in these job searches that may come up based on the playoffs, exits and different things that happen over the next few weeks around the league.”

It is this trace of past opportunities that makes his situation noteworthy now.

Billy Donovan turned down Knicks and UNC before leaving Bulls

Charania revealed that Donovan had had genuine conversations about the New York Knicks head coaching job the previous summer, and had also shown serious interest from North Carolina during the season. Both times he stayed there.

“He could have gotten the New York Knicks job last summer. And his conversations with Michael and Jerry Reinsdorf basically led him to decide to stay, honor his commitment, honor his contract, and stick with it. And in the season, he could have gotten the UNC job. But he never committed with UNC, because the program made multiple back-channel attempts for him.”

Two different occasions. Two different moments. And both times Donovan chose to honor what he signed up for in Chicago, with the Bulls clearly headed toward a rebuild.

“So he potentially had multiple opportunities to get out of his contract with the Bulls. But he decided to continue. And so I think we’ll see what jobs open up.”

That’s just who he is. He is not a person who chases the exit when things get uncomfortable. He waited for the right moment, and now that he’s free, teams around the league will be lining up.

When asked specifically what jobs he considered realistically suitable, Charania was measured. The three current openings, Chicago, Milwaukee and New Orleans, are not where he sees Donovan landing. More interesting scenarios come later.

“Right now, it’s Chicago, it’s Milwaukee, it’s New Orleans. I don’t see him getting into these jobs. But we’ll see what happens around the league, like what happens in New York, what happens in Orlando.”

New York and Orlando are two very different situations. The Knicks are in the midst of a playoff race with Mike Brown on the hot seat. The Magic have Jamahl Mosley, but his future isn’t guaranteed either. Both are worth watching as the playoffs progress.

And through it all, Charania was clear about one thing. Donovan didn’t leave Chicago because something better was already waiting.

“Many other circumstances could arise this year. So I don’t think he’s made a decision, or at least I know he hasn’t already made a decision based on the job he’s been offered.”

Donovan spent five seasons in Oklahoma City, making the playoffs every year, winning two national championships at Florida and last September he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Wherever he lands, the job will be better for him.

Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

在解雇了管理層高管阿圖拉斯·卡尼索瓦斯和邁克爾·埃弗斯利後，芝加哥公牛隊似乎進入了一個新時代，但主教練比利·多諾萬的問題仍然存在。儘管關於公牛隊和多諾萬的傳聞不斷，但球隊老闆邁克爾·雷因斯多夫會對球隊對主教練的看法發表很多言論。

據 KC 約翰遜透露，隨著圍繞多諾萬和芝加哥公牛的猜測仍在繼續，雷因斯多夫將於週二向媒體發表講話，並表達老闆如何希望教練在未來加入球隊。另外，關於多諾萬和他對自己未來的決定不會太久，因為常規賽結束後的周一將舉行會議。

「我希望非常清楚，我們希望比利繼續擔任芝加哥公牛隊的教練，」雷因斯多夫說。

雷因斯多夫將繼續談論球隊的做法，多諾萬是否留在球隊，例如教練「更多參與」人事對話，以及他們最終面試新總經理的時間。

雷因斯多夫說：“如果我們正在面試某人，而他們不喜歡比利和名人堂教練，以及在大學贏得冠軍並在俄克拉荷馬城季後賽中走得很深的人，而且考慮到他所分配的球隊，在芝加哥取得了良好的成績，那麼他們就不是我們的合適人選。”

不可否認，公牛隊本賽季的表現是多麼令人失望，球隊戰績為 29 勝 49 負，排在東部第 12 位，並無緣季後賽爭奪。多諾萬是否繼續擔任主教練還有待觀察，但球隊現在的目標是在周二對陣華盛頓巫師隊的比賽還剩四場比賽的情況下強勢結束常規賽。

The North Carolina Tar Heels turned to pro sports two years ago when they needed to find a new head coach for the football program. Now that they are in the market for a men’s basketball coach, the same approach can be used with someone acquired from the NBA.

Amid reports that he is an option under consideration in the Tar Heels coaching search, Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan did not deny that he would be interested in the North Carolina coaching job. However, for now he is focused on his role in Chicago.

“My main focus is on these guys and this new team. I understand there’s a lot out there, and I understand there will be some speculation. But, I have to focus on this group, and really, my focus is on what we’re doing here in Chicago, having a game tonight, and traveling to play a back-to-back.”

Chicago Bulls HC Billy Donovan on potential interest in being considered as part of the North Carolina Tar Heels coaching search (h/t The Athletic)

RELATED: Latest on North Carolina Tar Heels coaching search

Donovan, who will turn 61 in May, was once one of the best coaches in college basketball. He won six regular season SEC titles and back-to-back national championships along with four Final Four appearances with the Florida Gators.

After posting a 467–186 record (.715 winning percentage) at Florida, Donovan made the jump to the NBA with the Oklahoma City Thunder prior to the 2015–16 NBA season. ^{He recorded a .608 winning percentage in five seasons with the franchise, but his record in the NBA playoffs was only 18–23.}

RELATED: North Carolina Tar Heels coaching candidates

One thing worth noting is that Chicago Sun-Times It was reported that there were rumors in the NBA that Donovan might leave the position of head coach of Chicago and then take a year off. Instead, he may decide to return to college basketball for the first time in more than a decade.

This would be a bit risky for both parties. Donovan was a men’s college basketball coach long before the NIL era and won national championships when future NBA stars like Joakim Noah and Al Horford coached him for multiple seasons.

Donovan wasn’t the only guy under consideration in the NBA. North Carolina reportedly had interest in Boston Celtics executive Brad Stevens, but he has opted to remain in his current role

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

When Billy Donovan was asked about the possibility of leaving the Chicago Bulls to coach North Carolina, he expressed complete reservations. According to Tony Jones of The Athletic, Donovan would not deny that he had some interest in coaching the Tar Heels, instead turning his attention to his job with the Bulls.

“My main focus is on these guys and this new team,” Donovan said. “I understand there are things out there, and I understand there will be some speculation. But, I’ve got to focus on this group, and really, my focus is on what we’re doing here in Chicago, having a game tonight, and traveling to play back-to-back.”

The message in these comments suggests that Chicago’s current head coach is still keeping the door open to a move to North Carolina after the season. The Bulls will play their final game on April 12, but he is under contract with Chicago after signing a multi-year deal last offseason. This line of thinking is in line with ClutchPoints’ report that there was some uncertainty over Donovan’s future.

Brett Siegel reported, “This has led to a lot of questions being asked among NBA personnel about Donovan’s long-term future with the Bulls.” “One of which revolves around whether he would really consider going back to college to a prolific program like North Carolina if he was offered the job.”

If Billy Donovan were ever to return to college after his successful stint at Florida from 1996 to 2015, it would likely be for the allure of a program like North Carolina.

Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan is considered one of the leading candidates to take over as head coach of the North Carolina basketball program, league sources tell ClutchPoints. Hubert Davis was fired by the UNC Tar Heels after five seasons, and the school is moving quickly to add a high-profile coach to lead its historic program for the foreseeable future.

Whether or not Donovan will actually leave the NBA to become UNC’s next head coach after spending the last decade coaching professionally is the major question being asked in both the NBA and collegiate ranks.

North Carolina is expected to contact Donovan soon and have talks about his vacant head coaching role, with sources telling ClutchPoints that the Bulls coach would “seriously consider” the idea of ​​taking over the historic program if offered the job.

Donovan has never ruled out a possible return to coaching again at the collegiate level, and that opportunities like the one at UNC will likely arise again.

Donovan, a two-time NCAA championship coach with the Florida Gators, has spent the last 11 seasons in the NBA. He was originally hired by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2015 before signing a lucrative four-year contract worth approximately $25 million to become the head coach of the Bulls in 2020.

Less than a year earlier, in July, Donovan signed a new multi-year contract extension making him one of the league’s highest-paid coaches. Sources say Donovan is being paid $10 million per year on this new extension with the Bulls.

Although it is not certain whether he will leave the Bulls and the NBA to take over the UNC basketball program, Donovan’s future in Chicago has become a significant discussion topic among league personnel over the past month.

Billy Donovan’s future in Chicago is uncertain

While the Bulls have no intention of moving on from Donovan even though the 2025-26 season marks the franchise’s fourth consecutive season that has missed the playoffs, the latest rumors point to the 60-year-old head coach being unsure about his commitment to the organization.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the Bulls’ lack of direction has led Donovan to think about his future. As a result, there is growing speculation that Donovan is possibly stepping down to get his coaching career back on a successful path.

Donovan has never been one to bounce from one job to the next, given his time as a collegiate coach, which is why his perceived sense of skepticism in the overall direction of the Bulls will be a selling point in a potential new deal to become UNC’s next head coach.

In addition to keeping Donovan at the top of the list of potential candidates, the UNC Tar Heels selected Boston Celtics executive and former head coach Brad Stevens as the university’s top choice for their coaching vacancy. However, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander, Stevens has already removed his name from the university’s list of prospects.

When contacted for confirmation on the matter, league sources told ClutchPoints that Stevens has no desire to leave the Celtics and is fully committed to competing for and winning more championships in Boston.

In addition to Donovan, high-level coaches such as Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd, Michigan’s Dusty Mays and Alabama’s Nate Oats have come up as rumored targets for UNC.

Since taking over the role of Bulls head coach in 2020, Donovan has compiled a record of 224–247, including 71 games this season, with only one postseason appearance in 2022. After winning 39 games each of the last two years, Donovan and the Bulls took a step back this year and will enter the offseason with a ton of questions revolving around roster construction.

This has led to many questions being asked among NBA personnel about Donovan’s long-term future with the Bulls, one of which revolves around whether he would really consider going back to college to a prolific program like North Carolina if offered the job.

As the Cleveland Cavaliers’ season begins to wind down, there are questions as to who will join James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen in the Cavs’ starting lineup when the playoffs arrive. Due to injuries and sporadic player availability, it has been difficult to establish consistency in the five matches before the start of the month, making decisions not easy.

However, as Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson has mentioned in the past, that’s why he has the job he does. Ultimately it is up to him and his staff to make the difficult decisions, such as who starts, who ends, and how many people play.

“We probably have to get to nine,” Atkinson said last week in Milwaukee. “I’m still evaluating who fits in and who will lead the way in terms of coming into the rotation. I still think we haven’t made a clear decision on who that nine is.

“But it’s hard to play 10. You might be able to do it early in the first round; you might be able to do it in the early games. But eventually, you get to nine or eight. We know that, but I still think we have to evaluate, especially our wings. We have a lot of wings right now.”

Realistically, the Cavs can pick whoever they want since they have a number of similar swingmen.

Here are the most likely candidates for that final starting spot.

dean wade

Atkinson likes the defensive versatility that Dean Wade brings to the table and, in turn, has rewarded him with the job when healthy. It makes sense because he’s a 6-foot-9, 230-pound underutilized player who can knock down open threes and rebound. People get frustrated when he doesn’t make shots and even more excited when he turns down shots, but the reality is that the veteran forward simply needs to be a threat on the perimeter of space and get closeouts.

The Cavs don’t need to be a big scorer; Just look at who she’s on the floor with. Don’t let the box score determine your opinion of Wade. As long as he’s doing his job – defending, breaking the glass, and making the perfect next play, which involves shooting the ball – then he’s the man for the job. He, Mobley and Allen form a trio that makes it difficult for any opponent to consistently counter, which makes sense considering they have been playing together for five seasons.

Furthermore, if the decision is made to send him to the bench, Wade isn’t exactly a prolific scorer to promote him in the way most sixth men typically do.

From the beginning, Atkinson has made it clear that Max Strus’ postseason berth is a lock. In four games, despite the ban, he has averaged 23.5 minutes per contest. While Strus’ season debut is doing the heavy lifting, he is averaging 8.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists on .440/.409/1.000 shooting splits. Similar to Wade, the 29-year-old doesn’t need the ball in his hands to be effective on a nightly basis for Cleveland.

However, Strus can handle the rock, and he has proven capable in the past with the Cavs’ rolling bigs in half-court scenarios. He’s a pocket passer with Allen in the two-man game, and Atkinson thinks there’s still potential with Mobley in dribble handoffs, as he did with Bam Adebayo in Miami. Strus has an uncanny knack for hitting contested threes, being in the right place at the right time for a backtap, and saving possessions with a quick game.

He gives Cleveland solid strength at third, and he has been a (healthy) everyday starter for Cleveland since signing as a free agent in the summer of 2023. If he is physically prepared and ready for the tough conditions of the postseason after this disappointing injury, he will be a big factor.

jaylon tyson

Switching roles isn’t as easy as Jaylon Tyson has had to do this season, but he’s handled it with ease. The burden from being one of the most important players on your team to playing less than 20 minutes in three consecutive games takes a toll on the mind. And yet, the second-year rising star is doing exactly what he’s asked in a specific role. Tyson was rewarded for that on Thursday night in Chicago, as he had an 18-point, 11-rebound performance before suffering a toe injury.

Injury aside, is it fair to ask Tyson, who emerged as a secondary playmaker in short roles next to Mitchell and Co. in the first half of the season, to do a similar job to Wade or Strus? It feels like it puts him in a kind of box, unlike what we saw in the first months. If he’s in the starting five, will he be limited to a low-usage role player, or will Cleveland free him up to the max be that? There can be no questioning his commitment as an individual defender or the attitude he brings to the field, although he has been self-critical about losing the ball to opponents on backdoor cuts.

Understanding that people have to pay their dues, it looks like Tyson has earned his money and shouldn’t be going back. If coming off the bench allows him to thrive in a looser unit as a facilitator and scorer, so be it. It’s admirable that he’s willing to be what the team wants him to be, but perhaps coaches should think twice about what they’re asking of him.

keon ellis

Keon Ellis made his first two starts for the Cavs in mid-March against the Dallas Mavericks. As a player he’s “still discovering,” Atkinson has a real passion for how he works in the pocket with his float game. Additionally, Ellis has shown a burst of driving from close to the perimeter, and Cleveland has been pleased with the increase in his offensive rebounding rate since his arrival.

It’s hard to argue against Ellis in terms of his defensive ability. He sees the dramas before they happen, acts on them, and resorts to alcohol and sleep on a nightly basis. Atkinson doesn’t mind playing him, and he also won’t hesitate to toss him to the 4 in small-ball sets. Ellis makes a lot of logical sense as a starter due to his low usage and patience.

Sam Merrill

It’s been a career season for Sam Merrill, who is averaging 12.8 points on a career-high 66.2% true shooting. He has started in 33 of his 45 appearances this season, and has had an almost even split between playing at 2 and 3. Merrill is an off-ball threat with consistent movement. His processing speed has improved tremendously with more reps, allowing him to establish chemistry with Harden and consistently thrive next to Mitchell.

Always on the floor, Merrill will leave his body to screen and defend despite being hunted. He will take the charge and ensure that he is present to contest the elections. It appears he is better suited at shooting guard because he is not forced to guard long, tall wings, but he is a starting-caliber player in this league. You can’t just look at Meryl one-dimensionally anymore. He will force you to pay off the dribble, get to the basket with cuts and take advantage of any piece of space.

However, who is the right Cavs fit?

The Cavs have an abundance of talent in the wing room for the modern league. Due to the length and strength of his potential opponents at 3, Wade makes the most logical sense. Last year was the only time Cleveland was able to field a healthy version of him in the postseason, and he was 10th in the rotation in the first round. Due to untimely injuries, the team had to throw him into the fire when the Indiana Pacers series was coming to an end.

Wade played only one postseason game with Mobley and Allen, lasting four minutes. One of the team’s most effective trio over the past few years has barely made an appearance due to bad luck and lack of opportunity. For example, Wade, Mobley and Allen shared the floor for 249 minutes last season.

This year, in 163 minutes, the combination has a net rating of plus-17.2, with tremendous balance on both ends of the floor. Ultimately seeing this happen with talents like Harden and Mitchell in the starting five last April could be the key to getting off to a good start defensively and setting the tone on the board.

Good defense leads to good offense. Its as simple as that.

Who gets to close out Cavs games is a different story.

The Cleveland Cavs will visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night. Donovan Mitchell is on the injury report along with Jarrett Allen, with one player listed as questionable and the other ruled out. Mitchell is nursing a left eye injury, while Allen is suffering from right knee tendinitis. Here’s everything we know about Donovan Mitchell’s injury and his playing status against the Pelicans.

Donovan Mitchell’s injury status vs. Pelicans

Given that Donovan Mitchell is listed as questionable on the Cavaliers’ injury report, it is difficult to predict whether he will play in Saturday’s contest against the Pelicans. Mitchell made NBA history with a hat-trick of career accomplishments in a single game. With the 20+ point performance he reached 15,000 career points, surpassing Mark Price for sixth most in franchise history, and scored his 200th 3-pointer of the regular season.

Still, Mitchell’s eye injury forced him to sit out Thursday’s 115-110 win against the Bulls. While the Cavs have won their last two games, they are 6-4 in their last 10 contests. With only 12 games remaining in the regular season, the Cavs (43-27) are one of the few teams that can overtake the Knicks for third place in the Eastern Conference.

The Knicks (46-25) hold a 2.5-game lead. The Cavs have distanced themselves from the fifth-seeded Raptors (39-30) in recent weeks, powering the Eastern Conference’s top-4 squads during the fourth quarter of the regular season.

Mitchell finished with 19 points, eight rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal in his last outing against the Bucks. As for whether Donovan Mitchell is playing tonight against the Pelicans, the answer is probably.

Cavs injury report

Jarrett Allen – Out – Right knee; tendinitis

Donovan Mitchell – questionable – left eye; Indigo

Craig Porter Jr. – Outside – left groin; strain

Tyrese Proctor – Out – Right Quadricep

Jaylon Tyson – Questionable – Left toe; Sprain

pelicans injury report

Bryce McGowens – Outside – Right little toe; fracture

First of all, things are looking absolutely bleak for the Chicago Bulls when they play against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday. Even though Josh Giddy was tallying historic assist totals, the Bulls found themselves trailing by 29 points.

However, Chicago made a remarkable performance in the fourth quarter. At one point they went on a 20-4 run, bringing them within one point. But some critical mistakes by James Harden and Evan Mobley robbed Chicago of its chance for the greatest comeback in history.

The result was that they had to face defeat 105-100.

There’s no doubt that Billy Donovan is thinking about the future of the franchise. That sentiment was expressed in how he viewed the game afterward. Of all the measures, they need to work on their mindset to overcome the difficulty.

“My issue is with him for tonight,” Donovan said. “They really care; they really want to do well individually and collectively, but we get frustrated a lot, and we have to be more tough when things aren’t going our way.

Despite missed opportunities, a select few put in notable performances in Chicago. Josh Giddy surpassed his personal best in assists (17) with 19 assists and scored nine points. Meanwhile, Leonard Miller came off the bench and added 10 points in the fourth quarter, and shot 4 of 9 from the field.

Also, Guerschon Yabusele scored 10 points of his own in the fourth quarter, including hitting two 3-pointers to close the gap in the waning minutes. Additionally, Nick Richard finished with 16 points and eight rebounds.

Trey Jones led the way with 20 points with four rebounds. Rob Dillingham scored 17 points and grabbed four boards. Chicago is now 28-42 and has lost 7 of its last 10 games.

There are still a few weeks left in the NBA regular season. But it’s safe to assume that the Chicago Bulls are still rebuilding. A series of trades that shook up the franchise during the trade deadline speaks to this.

As a result, the Bulls are stuck with a young roster and uncertainty about who will stay or go. This especially applies to Collin Sexton, Nick Richards, Anfernee Simmons, Jaden Ivey, Leonard Miller and Rob Dillingham.

Additionally, head coach Billy Donovan is as forthright as ever when talking about Chicago’s future. According to Sports Illustrated’s Elias Schuster, this also includes questions about his future with the franchise.

Before the Bulls took on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, Donovan talked about the future.

“I think we’ll do what we’ve always done – sit out the end of the year,” he said. “We talk about the team every day and obviously the biggest challenge for us has been injuries and things we’ve gone through since the trade deadline. But just trying to get these new people together – playing together – [is] Where all our focus has been. The decisions you’re talking about are decisions that are probably going to be made during the draft, during free agency, those things. So, I think you should look at the team. Certainly, there are people whose contracts are expiring – there are people whose contracts are restricted – so there’s probably a lot of decisions that have to be made, but we haven’t really talked about those decisions at all at this point.

Currently, the Bulls are 28-41 and in 12th place in the Eastern Conference.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will face the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night in the second game of their road trip. Donovan Mitchell is listed as questionable on the injury report with an eye injury. Jarrett Allen is out for the Cavs as he deals with right knee tendinitis.

Here’s everything we know about the game situation for Donovan Mitchell vs. the Bulls.

Donovan Mitchell’s injury status vs. Bulls

When it comes to the question of whether Donovan Mitchell is playing tonight against the Bulls, the answer is probably. Mitchell’s name was not included on the injury report until the afternoon due to a left eye injury. There was plenty of bloodshed in the Cavs’ win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.

“I can’t really see out of my left eye tonight,” Mitchell said after a 19-point performance on 4-of-14 from the floor. Their focus was on making an impact with the ball and on the glass while Evan Mobley and James Harden continued to build their chemistry.

Cleveland will also be without Jarrett Allen for the seventh consecutive game, and based on the latest update we know he will be sidelined again on Saturday against the New Orleans Pelicans. Craig Porter Jr. is expected to be out at least a week with a left groin strain, while Tyrese Proctor has still not been cleared to play because of a right quadriceps strain.

No surprises on the Bulls’ injury sheet. Zach Collins, Jaden Ivey and Noah Esengue are out of action, while a pair of their two-way players are on assignment with the G League Windy City.

Cavs injury report

Donovan Mitchell: Suspect (injury in left eye)

Jarrett Allen: Out (tendinitis of the right knee)

Craig Porter Jr: out (stretching the left waist)

Tyrese Proctor: Out (right quad strain)

OLIVIER SARR: AUGUST (Two-Way G League Assignment)

oxen injury report

Jaden Ivy: Out (left patellofemoral syndrome)

Zach Collins: out (right big toe surgery)

Noah Asengue: Out (left shoulder surgery)

Yuki Kawamura: Out (Two-Way G League Assignment)

Mac McClung: Out (Two-Way G League Assignment)

阿约·多孙穆 (Ayo Dosunmu) 是明尼苏达森林狼队的一名不错的新秀。球队在二月份与芝加哥公牛队的交易中获得了多森姆和朱利安·菲利普斯，以换取罗布·迪林厄姆、伦纳德·米勒和四个第二轮选秀权。

多森姆让森林狼队的替补席变得更加强大，在攻防两端始终如一的发挥。在为森林狼出战的 15 场比赛中，这位 26 岁的后卫场均贡献 12.1 分，投篮命中率为 53.6%。

虽然他的得分有所下降，但他暗示自己已经 更多自由 与森林狼队和公牛队相比，他在公牛队的教练是比利·多诺万。

“在芝加哥，中距离投篮确实是被禁止的。只有三分球和上篮。除非比赛时间结束，否则不能中距离投篮，”多松姆在森林狼队记者戴恩·摩尔发布的视频中说道。

“在这里，我们有鲁迪（戈贝尔），他正在设置大掩护。所以如果你能安排挡拆，你就可以摆脱鲁迪，你就可以打开。”

阿约·多孙穆 (Ayo Dosunmu) 谈论了他在挡拆报道中读到的内容，以及为什么在芝加哥禁止中投后，他在明尼苏达州进行了更多的中距离投篮。

“在芝加哥，中距离投篮确实是被禁止的。只有三分球和上篮，没有中距离投篮，除非是…… pic.twitter.com/LtGKsRjVqN

— 戴恩·摩尔 (@DaneMooreNBA) 2026 年 3 月 18 日

摩尔指出，多孙穆在森林狼队的中距离投篮次数为 12 次，而本赛季在公牛队的 45 场比赛中只投中了 4 次。

“在芝加哥，多孙穆 86% 的投篮命中率是在篮下或三分球。在明尼苏达，他正在成为一名三级得分手，”摩尔写道。

根据高级分析，由于效率低下，一些球队已经回避中距离投篮。一些专家甚至宣称中距离跳投在NBA已经是一门失传的艺术。

与此同时，明尼苏达队周二在目标中心以 116-104 击败菲尼克斯太阳队，战绩升至 42-27。

多孙木顶替安东尼·爱德华兹首发，贡献19分、5个篮板和2次助攻，后者因膝伤将缺席两周。

当周三对阵犹他爵士队时，他将继续发挥重要作用。

阿約·多孫穆 (Ayo Dosunmu) 是明尼蘇達灰狼隊的一名不錯的新秀。球隊在二月份與芝加哥公牛隊的交易中獲得了多森姆和朱利安·菲利普斯，以換取羅布·迪林厄姆、倫納德·米勒和四個第二輪選秀權。

多森姆讓灰狼的替補席變得更加強大，在攻防兩端始終如一的發揮。在為灰狼出戰的 15 場比賽中，這位 26 歲的後衛場均貢獻 12.1 分，投籃命中率為 53.6%。

雖然他的得分有所下降，但他暗示自己已經 更多自由 與灰狼隊和公牛隊相比，他在公牛隊的教練是比利·多諾萬。

「在芝加哥，中距離投籃確實是被禁止的。只有三分球和上籃。除非比賽時間結束，否則不能中距離投籃，」多松姆在灰狼記者戴恩摩爾發布的影片中說道。

「在這裡，我們有魯迪（戈貝爾），他正在設置大掩護。所以如果你能安排擋拆，你就可以擺脫魯迪，你就可以打開。”

阿約·多孫穆 (Ayo Dosunmu) 談論了他在擋拆報道中讀到的內容，以及為什麼在芝加哥禁止中投後，他在明尼蘇達州進行了更多的中距離投籃。

「在芝加哥，中距離投籃確實是被禁止的。只有三分球和上籃，沒有中距離投籃，除非是… pic.twitter.com/LtGKsRjVqN

— 戴恩摩爾 (@DaneMooreNBA) 2026 年 3 月 18 日

摩爾指出，多孫穆在灰狼隊的中距離投籃次數為 12 次，而本賽季在公牛隊的 45 場比賽中只投中了 4 次。

「在芝加哥，多孫穆 86% 的投籃命中率是在籃下或三分球。在明尼蘇達，他正在成為一名三級得分手，」摩爾寫道。

根據高級分析，由於效率低下，一些球隊已經迴避中距離投籃。有些專家甚至宣稱中距離跳投在NBA已經是一門失傳的藝術。

與此同時，明尼蘇達隊週二在目標中心以 116-104 擊敗菲尼克斯太陽隊，戰績升至 42-27。

多孫木頂替安東尼愛德華茲先發，貢獻19分、5籃板和2助攻，後者因膝傷缺席兩週。

當週三對陣猶他爵士隊時，他將繼續發揮重要作用。

Donovan Mitchell scored a hat trick Sunday, achieving career, season and Cleveland Cavaliers team milestones in a single game.

Just three minutes into the first quarter, facing the Dallas Mavericks, he drained his 200th three-pointer of the season. The 2025–26 campaign marks the fourth time Mitchell has beaten at least that many in a season.

At the 8:45 mark of the third, on a pass from backcourt partner James Harden, Mitchell drilled another trey from 25 feet on the left wing to surpass the 15,000 mark.

Mitchell is the fifth NBA player to reach 15K since entering the league in 2017. Since that time, only Harden, DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo have accomplished the feat. According to Stathead, he is also the 35th player in NBA history to record 15,000 points in his first nine seasons.

Then, in the final frame, Mitchell recorded a 20-point game for the 193rd time, and in the process passed franchise legend Mark Price for sixth-most all-time in Cavs history. He needs only four more to make the jump to World B. Free to make the top five (196).

It has been a remarkable year for Mitchell in many ways, which deserves much praise.

New-look Cavs going through tough first stretch together

The Cavs are 4-5 in their last nine games, having been swept by the Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors for the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference.

It is the first time that this version of the team has run into issues, after Mitchell, the returning Max Strus and Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson described the Mavs as a “bad loss.”

“I’m not going to use the word concern,” Mitchell said. “I think it’s something that we have 12 games to fix and move on from there. With the current structure of the group we haven’t had this, really any, adversity. So how do we handle it, right? Like, two tough losses defensively, that really hurt us. We go back and watch film. We’re going to have an important trip, and then when we come back. We’ll have some home games, right?

“That’s going to be the biggest thing. It’s not always going to happen… We would love to go out there and win these games, but you learn more through these losses, and use it to improve and get better.”

周五，克利夫兰骑士队客场挑战达拉斯小牛队。对于多诺万·米切尔来说，他希望 维持他一周的卓越表现。

在第二节，米切尔就是这么做的。还剩8分50秒时，骑士队42-33领先小牛队。库珀·弗拉格试图在弧顶传球。然而，米切尔就在那里拦截。

当他走向另一端时，米切尔 运用到完美 他的 商标风车移动 根据 ClutchPoints 的数据，对阵弗拉格上篮。

多诺万·米切尔 (Donovan Mitchell) 在库珀·弗拉格 (Cooper Flagg) 上空打出了他标志性的风车聚集 😮‍💨🔥pic.twitter.com/aW3bBKzN6l

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 2026 年 3 月 14 日

到目前为止，米切尔已经打了58场比赛。此外，他场均贡献28.3分和5.8次助攻。与此同时，骑士队战绩为40胜26负，排在东部第四，并且在过去的十场比赛中平分秋色。

此外，弗拉格在因脚伤连续缺席八场比赛后正在复出。尽管如此，弗拉格仍然 NBA年度最佳新秀的热门人选。

与此同时，米切尔最近 因腹股沟受伤缺席四场比赛。米切尔自 2022 年以来一直效力于骑士队。他目前正在克利夫兰度过他的第四个赛季。

2023年至2026年，米切尔作为骑士队成员入选NBA全明星阵容。 2024 年 7 月，米切尔 签署为期三年、价值 1.503 亿美元的续约合同 与克利夫兰。

周日，骑士队将在主场再次迎战小牛队。随后，他们将在周二客场对阵密尔沃基雄鹿队。周四，骑士队将前往芝加哥迎战公牛队。

然后他们将在客场对阵新奥尔良鹈鹕队结束本周的比赛。

The Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. For Donovan Mitchell, he was looking maintain his week of excellence.

Mitchell did the same in the second quarter. With 8:50 left, the Cavaliers led the Mavericks 42–33. Cooper Flagg attempted to pass the ball at the top of the key. However, Mitchell was there for the interception.

As he moved towards the other end, Mitchell used to perfection His trademark windmill trick Against the flag for a layup, according to ClutchPoints.

Donovan Mitchell assembles his signature windmill atop the Cooper Flag 😮‍💨🔥pic.twitter.com/aW3bBKzN6l

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 14 March 2026

Mitchell has played 58 matches so far. Additionally, he averages 28.3 points and 5.8 assists per game. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are 40-26, in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings, and have dropped their last ten games.

Additionally, Flagg is returning after missing eight straight games with a foot injury. Still, the flag remains Odds-on favorites for NBA Rookie of the Year.

Meanwhile, Michelle recently Missed four games due to back injury. Mitchell is with the Cavaliers through 2022. He is currently playing his fourth season in Cleveland.

From 2023 to 2026, Mitchell was selected to the NBA All-Star team as a member of the Cavaliers. In July 2024, Michelle Signed a three-year, $150.3 million contract extension With Cleveland.

On Sunday, the Cavaliers will face the Mavericks again at home. Next, they play on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday. On Thursday, the Cavaliers travel to Chicago to take on the Bulls.

They will then finish the week against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night. Neither Donovan Mitchell nor Evan Mobley are listed on the injury report for the second half of the back-to-back. The Cavs have a laundry list of names to consider before the tilt, including Jarrett Allen, Max Strus and more. The Sixers will be without Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe, among others.

Here’s everything we know about Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley’s playing status against the 76ers, as well as their teammates.

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Injury status of Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley for Cavs vs. 76ers

When it comes to the question of whether Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley are playing in tonight’s Cavs vs. 76ers matchup, the answer is yes.

After missing two weeks of action, Mitchell returned from a groin strain on Sunday to turn in a commendable effort against the Boston Celtics in a 109-98 loss. The Cavs’ star guard finished with 30 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two blocks in 34 minutes. Mobley is set to go into Monday’s meet, marking the first time he has played in two consecutive games since returning from a left calf strain following the All-Star break.

James Harden is available for Cleveland to continue playing despite a fractured right thumb. The same goes for Keon Ellis, who is dealing with a broken left finger. Dean Wade is likely with a sprained right ankle, and, as close as the start of the season seems to be for Max Strus, he has not yet returned for the Cavs.

The Sixers will be without three of their key players in Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Paul George. Philadelphia is also going to be without standout rookie VJ Edgecombe due to a back injury. Kelly Oubre Jr. will be able to play in Cleveland.

Cavs injury report

Jarrett Allen: Out (tendinitis of the right knee)

James Harden: Available (fracture in right thumb)

Keon Ellis: Available (Fracture of left index finger)

Dean Wade: probable (sprained right ankle)

Tyrese Proctor: Out (right quadriceps strain)

Max Strus: Out (left leg surgery)

OLIVIER SARR: AUGUST (Two-Way G League Assignment)

76ers injury report

Tyrese Maxey: Out (sprained right finger)

Joel Embiid: Out (right oblique stretch)

Paul George: Out (league suspension)

VJ Edgecombe: Out (lunar fusion)

Kelly Oubre Jr: Available (recovering from left knee injury)

John Broom: Out (right knee surgery)

After the Boston Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference clash, Jayson Tatum got props from Donovan Mitchell and James Harden for recovering from his concussions, returning to the field and immediately making a big impact on the game.

“He looks good,” Mitchell said in his postgame interview following the Cavs’ 109–98 loss to the Celtics. “I think naturally there’s some hesitation. I mean, it’s been 300 days. But you can see how he started the game. Even the slow start against Dallas, it just takes a few moves — it could be an Achilles, a groin injury — you just need a few moves to be like, ‘Okay,’ and then you get back at it.”

“But he looks really good for someone [that missed] 10 months. It’s impressive.”

Tatum finished the game with 20 points, three rebounds and two assists to only one turnover in 27 minutes. He started the game by getting to his spot on the drive and finding his way to the free-throw line and, despite a slight cold, finished the day strong in the fourth quarter.

“Getting to your spots, making shots,” said Harden, who acknowledged Tatum before the matchup. “Obviously, it’s important for them to keep them in the mix, but they just do an incredible job of creating advantages; a well-coached team, and they played well today.

“I just told him, you look at a young guy, especially of that caliber, who has had a lot of success and won championships, and then, boom, adversity comes along. That mentality of not letting anything slow him down and stop him, and then he comes back, first game back, he plays well; tonight, he plays well. I think that’s a motivation in itself.”

Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson treated this meeting with the Celtics as if Tatum was fully healthy, admitting that it would be difficult to evaluate where he is now versus where he could be in a month or two in the postseason.

With this result, Boston increased its record to 43–21, and moved closer to the East’s top seed, the suddenly slipping Detroit Pistons. The Celtics added to their lead over Cleveland, now leading by four in the standings.

With Tatum back in the mix, and plenty of firepower around him and Jaylen Brown, there’s no telling how far they can take this. The Cavs will definitely be preparing for this.

“He changes the game,” Evan Mobley said. “He’s a great player. Instead of just focusing more on Brown, you have to focus on both now. It’s definitely a different dynamic, and we’ll be ready for it.”

Harden even said that Cleveland could look to Boston as a prime example of who it should aspire to be in the postseason.

“I told everybody, that’s the standard,” Harden said. “That’s standard. Part of the game of basketball is missing and making shots, but, like, our competitive nature to a game, our competitive spirit — whether we’re making shots or not — that’s what we do. And we forced the game to take over. And I think in the second half, we found something in ourselves.

“Being in my 10th or 11th game here, this is the level we’ve got to get to, Boston. And once we get there – because I know we’re good enough, we’ll get there – then we’ll be a better team. If we’re making shots, we’re going to shut teams out. Tonight we didn’t make shots, and we still gave ourselves chances. So it’s that simple.”

The Cleveland Cavaliers will face the Boston Celtics later in the week, and it will be a showdown between the two top teams in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics are on a roll this season and got even better than their last game with the return of Jayson Tatum. As for the Cavs, they have been working with some new pieces on their roster, and they have helped them over the past few weeks.

Donovan Mitchell had missed the last four games with a right groin strain and it was uncertain when he would return to the court. His injury report is still pending before the game against the Celtics, but it looks like he has a chance to be fit.

Here is Mitchell’s position before his game.

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Donovan Mitchell’s injury status vs. the Celtics

Mitchell is listed as probable against the Celtics, meaning it seems likely he will return from his absence. Kenny Atkinson said Mitchell was fully involved in the Cavs’ latest practice, and it looked like he was on his way back soon.

The Cavs probably wanted to be careful with Mitchell’s injury, especially since it was a soft tissue injury, but if he didn’t feel good, they wouldn’t put him back on the court.

Injuries have piled up for the Cavs at the moment, and that’s to their key players. James Harden has a fractured right thumb, but he has found a way to deal with it, and likely won’t notice it until his season is over. Keon Ellis also has a fracture in his finger and despite this he is playing.

Jarrett Allen suffered a knee injury during the week against the Detroit Pistons, but Atkinson says it is not a long-term issue.

Donovan Mitchell participated fully in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ latest practice, meaning he is likely to return before the team hosts the Boston Celtics on Sunday afternoon. Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson offered an update on the status of his All-Star guards as well as Max Strus, Jarrett Allen and Dean Wade.

Both Mitchell and Wade were fully engaged in Friday’s session, with Strus performing at about “90 percent” and Allen not practicing.

After missing the last four games with a right groin strain, Mitchell appears to be on his way to returning for Cleveland’s showdown with the Celtics. The same can be said for Wade, who hasn’t played in Milwaukee since Feb. 25 because of a right ankle sprain.

Strus got even tougher on Friday, and there is light at the end of the tunnel, although he likely won’t suit up for the Boston game in two days.

“He could have gone higher,” Atkinson said. “He and I got closer today in a loving way. He’s always going to challenge you. He always brings an energy. He gives 100 percent every practice. Obviously we missed the player, but we missed his personality.

“He and James [Harden] Worked out in a small group before starting, so that was good. It makes you feel optimistic, doesn’t it? You are becoming complete. If you look at it that way, adding Max is like adding another excellent free agent.

How serious is Jarrett Allen’s injury for the Cavs?

Atkinson assured the media that Allen’s right knee injury was “absolutely not long-term.”

“He did some conditioning and treatment, so we’ll see about that,” Atkinson said. “If he is out, it is a short-term thing.”

Allen suffered the illness while attempting to grab a rebound in the opening moments of the second half against the Detroit Pistons and was ruled out for the remainder of Tuesday’s contest.

It doesn’t look like the Cavs’ big man will suit up on Sunday, but we’ll get a clearer picture on Saturday.

The Portland Trail Blazers were looking to keep their momentum going against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night, but things took a turn for the worse late in the second quarter. Donovan Clingan, the Blazers’ towering rookie center, found himself ejected early after a hot moment leading to automatic elimination.

Donovan Clingan has been ejected from the game after being rated 2 in this game 😳

pic.twitter.com/5oxOF8iHpA

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 5 March 2026

With just over three minutes remaining in the first half and the Grizzlies leading 52–47, Clingan was running the ball at the top of the key. Memphis forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper was locked down defensively, getting tough and keeping his hands active in the rookie’s face. In an apparent attempt to create space or perhaps out of frustration from the physical pressure, the Klingon delivered a sharp elbow that caught Prosper, sending him falling to the floor.

chicago bulls The monkey was finally taken off their back after defeating the milwaukee bucks Spending February without winning a single game. On Tuesday, the Bulls faced the defending champion OKC Thunder.

Still, Chicago was without Jaden Ivey, Anfernee Simmons, Patrick Williams and Jalen Smith due to injury. Ivey suffers from left patellofemoral pain syndrome. Meanwhile, Simmons is dealing with a left ulnar styloid fracture. Additionally, Smith is nursing a right calf strain and Williams is out with a right calf strain.

Before the game, head coach Billy Donovan officially outlined Here’s what each of these players will do over the next five games, according to Chicago Sports Network’s Casey Johnson. Donovan said Ivey would stay behind, but Simmons would travel. However, it is not guaranteed that Simmons will play. Williams and Smith, meanwhile, will travel with hopes of playing.

Additionally, Donovan predicted what he thinks will happen to these players upon their return.

“I think ultimately that’s what’s going to happen is that whenever these guys can come back and be somewhat healthy and complete, regardless of the number of games left, we’re going to have to evaluate it,” Donovan said.

The Bulls are 25-36 and have lost 9 of their last 10 games. Their next five games are on the road, starting Thursday against the Phoenix Suns. After this they will play against Sacramento Kings on Sunday. Next Chicago will be in California to play the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, the LA Lakers on Thursday and the LA Clippers on Friday.

The Cleveland Cavaliers face the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night and Donovan Mitchell is once again at the center of the injury report. He has been officially listed with a right groin strain, putting the Cavaliers franchise star in focus as Cleveland looks to win back-to-back games and solidify its position in the Eastern Conference.

The Cavaliers enter the matchup at 38-24, No. 4 in the East. Meanwhile, the Pistons are the No. 1 seed in the conference and are aiming to extend a three-game winning streak after defeating the Cavaliers 122-119 on Feb. 27. With both teams striving for speed late in the season, Mitchell’s availability is big.

Mitchell continues to be Cleveland’s offensive engine whenever he is on the field. Through 55 games, he has averaged 28.5 points, 5.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds per contest, while shooting 48.3 percent from the field, 36.9 percent from three and 85.2 percent from the free-throw line. He also contributes 1.6 steals per game and puts consistent pressure on the opposing backcourt. His scoring gravity reshapes defensive coverages and opens up clean looks for teammates.

When Mitchell plays, the Cavaliers operate with pace and structure. Without him, shot creation becomes more committee-based, and late-game execution can tighten.

Donovan Mitchell’s injury status vs. Pistons

The Cavaliers’ injury report extends beyond Mitchell. Darius Brown and Riley Minix are out on G League two-way assignment. Max Strus is sidelined after having surgery on his left foot for a Jones fracture. Dean Wade is questionable with a right ankle sprain.

On the Pistons’ injury report, Isaac Jones and Wendell Moore Jr. are out on a two-way deal, while Bobby Klintman, Chaz Lanier and Tolu Smith are questionable while on G League assignment.

Still, Mitchell’s absence matters most. Detroit, sitting on top of the East, will see this as an opportunity to protect home court and continue building separation. Meanwhile, Cleveland will have to prove it can maintain its momentum without its leading scorer.

So when the question comes whether Donovan Mitchell is playing tonight against the Pistons, the answer is no. A right groin strain will keep him sidelined, forcing the Cavaliers to make adjustments as they pursue back-to-back wins against the East’s top team.

The Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers were already in a chaotic, “Twilight Zone” matchup at Little Caesars Arena when Donovan Mitchell decided to steal the show from the sideline. With a broken scoreboard and a literal handheld air horn dictating the rhythm of the game, Mitchell provided the perfect comedy beat on an otherwise tense Friday night for the Cavs.

While participating in an in-game interview from the bench, the sidelined Cavs superstar couldn’t help but play “armchair referee.” As he watched Dennis Schroder steal and then be fouled, Mitchell took over to defend his teammate. “Look at Dennis, man. That’s foul. Sorry,” he joked. It was a rare moment of jubilation in a building that felt more like a construction site than an NBA arena.

“Look at Dennis, man. This is foul.”

-Donovan Mitchell joins the broadcast from the bench pic.twitter.com/CWlyHJK2fw

– NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) 28 February 2026

Ultimately the jokes faded as the Pistons won 122–119 in an overtime thriller. Jalen Duren was a pass rusher, anchoring Detroit with a 33-point, 16-rebound triple-double. Cade Cunningham performed equally well, finishing with 26 points and seven assists to secure the win in front of the home crowd.

Despite Mitchell and James Harden being down, the Cavs refused to go quietly. Evan Mobley put up 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Jarrett Allen’s 25 points kept them alive long enough to force a 114–114 tie at the end of regulation. In the end, Detroit’s interior strength proved too much for the shorthanded Cavs to handle in the additional five minutes.

Despite showing tremendous grit and determination, the Cavs could not overcome the Pistons, who were losing their stars.

Participating in his first NBA All-Star Weekend, Jaylon Tyson was at the free-throw line during the Rising Stars game when his Cleveland Cavaliers teammate Donovan Mitchell literally announced his presence, and yelled at him as he walked to the front row of Crypto.com Arena. While trying to concentrate on making the shot, the 23-year-old lost focus after laughing and dropped it.

“I was trying to win MVP. I’m not going to lie. I was trying to get it,” Tyson recalled during practice last week. “And he’s yelling something in there. But I made it.”

Unfortunately, Tyson’s Tracy McGrady-led Team T-Mac did not have a chance to reach the title match; That doesn’t mean Tyson couldn’t bring out his true self. He led his team with 10 points and five rebounds in 11 minutes.

Tyson said, “The game, I wasn’t that happy because it was only five minutes, and then we had to go off the court.” “So I wanted to keep playing the whole game.”

Tyson dished out two assists, one of which was a highlight reel hook-up with Miami Heat big man Kel’El Ware on an alley-oop while turning the corner. Having missed the opportunity as a rookie, he took this as a chance to show what he was capable of with all eyes on the league’s biggest weekend.

“He plays hard,” Mitchell said. “He plays hard. He’s picking up the whole court. He’s doing all the things. I wish he’d get some help out there. He’s rebounding. He’s passing. He’s doing everything.”

“It’s been nice sharing the court with those guys. In my mind, I know I’m better than a lot, if not all, of those guys,” Tyson said. “I just want to go out there and prove it every day, and then, hopefully, be an All-Star one day.”

Unlike many talents who stay the weekend in Los Angeles, Tyson flew home after Friday to recuperate and prepare himself for the second half of the season. Mitchell was impressed with his professionalism in handling his first All-Star Weekend. He also made sure the talented young forward’s presence was felt when it came to 3-point contests.

Mitchell wore Tyson’s number 20 with his name on the back, as he had done with Sam Merrill’s uniform a few years earlier.

“It was great,” Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson said. “They have a great relationship. Donovan has embraced Jaylon from day one. The first thing he looked at him, he said, ‘This kid has this crazy work ethic.’ It reminds me a lot of Donovan. So I think he’s a big part of Jaylon’s development. It really helps when your best player contributes to the development of a young player. I thought it was a good move to do so.”

Although Tyson joked that his jersey was “a little big” for Mitchell, he felt his teammate’s love, and that’s nothing new.

Tyson said, “He’s one of those guys that I’ll have a relationship with throughout my career and beyond.” “I’m so grateful to have her. Honestly, I feel like I give her a lot of credit for that year. I go back to that text message; I don’t think people understand how much that text message meant to me and how much confidence it gave me. So I give her a lot of credit for all my success.”

Tyson is referring to when Mitchell approached him in the offseason about “his need” and his confidence in stepping into a bigger role. Mitchell admitted he hasn’t had the kind of year he’s had this year, with the second-year swingman averaging 13.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 27.4 minutes per game with the league’s third-best three-point shooting percentage (45.6%) and top-20 effective field goal percentage (60.0%).

It helps to have a shoulder to lean on when things go in different directions, and it was the subject of a heart-to-heart conversation as the two flew to LA together before the festivities began in mid-February.

“I was like, ‘Hey, this can’t be a 40-point night for you. This can’t be a 30-point night. This can’t be a start, this can’t be this,'” Mitchell said. “I told him, ‘Man, you’ve already shown that you’re capable.’ You’ve already shown a lot.” [than] More people have done this in their careers, and you have done it in a little more than half a year.

“So for him to adjust to his role and be OK with it is definitely impressive for a second-year guy. We’ll be on him, and he’s got to continue to earn everything he’s been doing. Nothing is a given, but he’s doing a good job. We’ve got to keep that going.”

Jaylon Tyson, the Cavs’ direction and the reality of the NBA

Since Cleveland shifted its roster with the acquisitions of James Harden, Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, the young players have seen a change in their responsibilities and a decrease in playing time. The veterans brought him in because of his experience and the need to adjust to a new group. As a result, players who were praised for their readiness throughout the season have been taken down a peg.

For example, Craig Porter Jr. and Naquan Tomlin have been left out of the current rotation. Tyson is still in the everyday lineup, but not in the same order.

“Defend, rebound, limit mistakes, make shots. That’s what it’s about,” Atkinson said. “In situations like this your package gets reduced, and he understands that, and he’s been great. I think he had a pretty good stretch; that’s how he got in the rotation, right? But now, living forward and looking at the playoffs, we’re seeing a similar role.”

“Once everyone comes back, once we’re fully healthy, it’s going to be a huge sacrifice,” Tyson said. “Whatever that looks like, obviously, the roles will change. But just buying into that role and doing something bigger than any one of us.”

Before Cleveland hosted the New York Knicks on Tuesday, Atkinson was surprisingly tough on Tyson, who played back-to-back games with less than 17 minutes left. This was his lowest total of playing time since late October.

When asked how he can get back to his normal amount of burn, Atkinson explained that Tyson and the guys playing the role have to earn it because of the short window for Cleveland to put the pieces in place before the postseason.

“It’ll come out on its own. It’s definitely a change for him,” Atkinson said. “I understand that, as a young player, it’s not easy. You go from scoring 39 points a couple weeks ago to, ‘My minutes are down a little bit.’ And I think he probably had some games where he wasn’t playing at that elite level. We’ve obviously added three new guys, three new rotation guys. So, it’s been cut a little differently.”

Tyson answers the call

Later that night, Atkinson praised Tyson for excelling in everything that was asked of him, especially guarding Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.

“That was kind of the blueprint right there,” Atkinson said. “Offensively, played in the short role, hit catch-and-shoot threes, limited his mistakes, and then played very good defense. We put him out there on the KAT, and he’s big and strong enough to defend him and put pressure on him and bother him.

“Behind Dean, can he be a perimeter stopper? He’s shown he can do that. He’s played really well all year. As young players, [they] Will probably make a few more mistakes than a vet like Dean, but if he wants big playoff minutes, this will have to be it. Can you become our job keeper? It’s a really positive trend: defensive numbers are good, size, obviously, a good rebounder. But there is development. It’s really, ‘Make fewer mistakes and be more solid.’ [with] Game plan stuff.”

Tyson finished with 12 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists, recording one steal and one block each, turning it over only once. Mitchell was encouraged by Tyson’s performance during the game.

“You saw him tonight as a 5-man, his formation and playing the pick and roll,” Mitchell said. “Pass to him, he’s got a layup, he’s got a floater, he’s making decisions. That’s what we’re going to need from him. That’s his bread and butter.”

While empathizing with how he may be feeling, Atkinson believes Tyson is handling the transition well.

“I don’t think it’s easy for anyone, but he’s an extremely mature person,” Atkinson said. “He gets it. He’s got great veteran support, not just coaches, but vets who explain to him what it looks like, and we have these discussions as a team. And it’s not just Jaylon, right? It’s other role players. It’s Keon. It’s Dennis. It’s just part of the situation when you have a lot of good players on your roster.”

Who knows how Harden’s broken right thumb will affect his role? For example, he probably won’t suit up for 35 minutes per night as he did in Thursday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks, as Mitchell and Evan Mobley also missed that game. It appears that Max Strus is on track to make a comeback at some point.

With Mitchell suffering a groin problem, Ellis suffering a fractured left index finger, Schroder suffering a sprained left ankle and Dean Wade suffering a right ankle injury, Tyson will need to return to his pre-trade duties. It’s a constant push and pull.

But whatever is required of him, Tyson will keep his head down and do whatever is asked of him to help the Cavs win.

“I feel like it’s just part of the NBA,” Tyson said. “Unless you’re a superstar, your role is going to change, and I think the best role players adapt to that. It’s something I’ve had to learn to do. I don’t mind that, OK, because obviously, I just want to win. James is here, he wants to win.

“I want to be a member to help him win and get that ring; the city of Cleveland, Donovan, everybody. I want to be a member to help them.”

The Cleveland Cavaliers head to take on the Milwaukee Bucks in the second night of a home-road match on Wednesday. James Harden is listed as questionable due to a broken thumb, while Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley will be out of action. Meanwhile, the Bucks will not have Giannis Antetokounmpo available for the matchup.

Here’s everything we know about James Harden and Donovan Mitchell’s playing status against the Hornets, in addition to their teammates.

*Watch NBA games live with fuboTV. Get access Save $30)

Injury status of James Harden, Donovan Mitchell for Cavs vs. Bucks

When it comes to the question of whether James Harden and Donovan Mitchell are playing in tonight’s Cavs vs. Bucks matchup, the answer is probably for Beard and not Spida.

Cleveland announced this afternoon that Harden suffered a non-displaced fracture of the distal phalanx of his right hand against the New York Knicks on Tuesday night. Luckily for both him and the team, it’s the thumb of his non-shooting-hand. It appears he plans to play despite the injury, which could keep him out in Milwaukee, depending on whether the Cavs want him to play through it soon.

Mitchell is listed out with a right groin strain, while Mobley is also sidelined with a strain on his left calf. With the Detroit Pistons next on the road on Friday, and the Cavs coming off a five-game-in-seven-night finish, it’s not surprising both are sitting out this one.

Max Strus has yet to make his season debut after recovering from left foot surgery, but Kenny Atkinson provided an encouraging update on his condition moving forward.

The Bucks will be without Giannis Antetokounmpo for the 13th consecutive game due to a calf injury.

Cavs injury report

James Harden: Questionable (fracture in right thumb)

Donovan Mitchell: Out (right waist stretch)

Evan Mobley: Out (Left calf injury maintenance)

Max Strus: Out (left leg surgery)

Tristan Enaruna: Out (Two-Way G League Assignment)

Darius Brown II: Out (Two-Way G League Assignment)

Riley Minix: Out (Two-Way G League Assignment)

bucks injury report

Giannis Antetokounmpo: Out (right calf strain)

Alex Antetokounmpo: Out (Two-Way G League Assignment)

Taurean Prince: Out (neck surgery)

芝加哥公牛队希望在周日对阵纽约尼克斯队的比赛中打破八连败。然而，他们将失去后卫安芬尼·西蒙斯 由于手腕受伤 周六对阵底特律活塞队。

赛前主教练比利·多诺万 提供的上下文 据 The Athletic 的乔尔·洛伦齐 (Joel Lorenzi) 报道，西蒙斯本周将面临什么。多诺万表示西蒙斯将于周一接受影像检查。此外，他还将与专业团队会面，以全面评估他受伤的严重程度。

“只是想知道发生了什么，”多诺万说。 “也许只是扭伤，仅此而已，或者可能还有更多。他会去看手部专家”。

西蒙斯来到公牛队 作为贸易的一部分 这将尼古拉·武切维奇送到了波士顿凯尔特人队。目前他在与芝加哥队的六场比赛中场均得到15.2分。此前，西蒙斯在凯尔特人队出战49场比赛，场均贡献14.2分。

与此同时，芝加哥队本赛季战绩为 24 胜 33 负，并且在 2 月份没有赢过一场比赛。周六，他们以 126-110 输给了活塞队。西蒙斯总共打了 13 分钟，拿下 4 分，然后在第三节被换下场。

西蒙斯在公牛队的最佳比赛是 2 月 9 日对阵布鲁克林篮网队的比赛。他拿下23分，17投10中，并送出7次助攻。

周二，公牛队将留在主场迎战夏洛特黄蜂队。然后，他们将在周四主场对阵波特兰开拓者队，为二月份画上句号。

芝加哥公牛隊希望在周日對陣紐約尼克隊的比賽中打破八連敗。然而，他們將失去後衛安芬尼·西蒙斯 由於手腕受傷 週六對陣底特律活塞隊。

賽前主教練比利·多諾萬 提供的上下文 根據 The Athletic 的 Joel Lorenzi 報道，西蒙斯本週將面臨什麼。多諾萬表示西蒙斯將於週一接受影像檢查。此外，他還將與專業團隊會面，以全面評估他受傷的嚴重程度。

「只是想知道發生了什麼，」多諾萬說。 「也許只是扭傷，僅此而已，或者可能還有更多。他會去看手部專家」。

西蒙斯來到公牛隊 作為貿易的一部分 這將尼古拉·武切維奇送到了波士頓塞爾提克隊。目前他在與芝加哥隊的六場比賽中場均得到15.2分。此前，西蒙斯在塞爾提克出賽49場比賽，場均貢獻14.2分。

與此同時，芝加哥隊本賽季戰績為 24 勝 33 負，並且在 2 月沒有贏過一場比賽。週六，他們以 126-110 輸給了活塞隊。西蒙斯總共打了 13 分鐘，拿下 4 分，然後在第三節被換下場。

西蒙斯在公牛隊的最佳比賽是 2 月 9 日對陣布魯克林籃網隊的比賽。他拿下23分，17投10中，並送出7次助攻。

週二，公牛隊將留在主場迎戰夏洛特黃蜂隊。然後，他們將在周四主場對陣波特蘭拓荒者隊，為二月畫下句點。

OKLAHOMA CITY – Without three of their top four scorers, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and the Cleveland Cavs – 121-113 – at Paycom Center on Sunday. The defending champions took a 28-5 lead in the opening frame. Without the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, the starters took advantage of defensive stops and elite shooting as Oklahoma City drained eight of its 21 threes in the first quarter.

In regards to who would guard Mitchell and Harden, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault revealed that the defensive assignment of Lou Dort over Mitchell won a 6–5 vote among his coaching staff. Cason Wallace spent most of the game facing Harden. Mitchell scored 20 points, but it took him nearly 20 attempts (9 of 19) to get there, as he was 0 of 6 from deep.

Harden scored 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting, nine assists and five rebounds. Wallace finished with 20 points with a career-high 10 assists and recorded his first double-double and three steals. Isaiah Joe’s 22 points led seven Thunder players into double figures, including Dort (12 points, two steals) and Oklahoma City’s entire starting lineup.

The defending champions’ strong defense forced 17 Cavs turnovers, which the Thunder converted into 31 points en route to an eight-point victory.

Cason Wallace shows off his signature performance in Thunder’s win

Thunder guard Cason Wallace understands the assignment ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Cavs. Before facing one of the league’s highest scoring backcourts in Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. And while the Thunder’s newest guards in Jared McCann and Nicola Topic have gotten acclimated to their new surroundings, Wallace has helped fill the void left after losing All-Stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell and Alex Caruso.

After the game, Wallace spoke to the media On his outlook ahead of the Thunder’s matinee matchup against the Cavs.

“I come into the game knowing that I have a high-level opponent that I have to guard against, you know, compete for minutes with him,” Wallace said. “First I had to slow him down. Then, offensively, we’ve got a lot of guys that are good at making plays. So, I can make some plays myself on offense, but those guys help me a lot on that end.”

Cason Wallace on the Thunder’s offense and OKC’s defense against the Cavs’ Mitchell and Harden: “Felt like we came in warmed up, had a little bit of momentum at the beginning of the game… I’ve got to slow it down first.

Then, offensively, we’ve got a lot of guys who are good at making plays.” pic.twitter.com/U65bg0x2bR

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 22 February 2026

The Thunder will travel to face the Raptors on Tuesday.

The Chicago Bulls were given serious news on Saturday. center zach collins Will be out for the rest of the season. the reason is Causes of long term injury to toe Which will require surgery.

Head coach Billy Donovan, before the game against the Detroit Pistons expressed a wish For Collins to return next season. According to the Chicago Bulls, he is playing the final year of his contract.

“I think there are two sides to this,” Donovan said. “When a guy is in free agency, there’s a financial part to it, and then there’s the player, the make-up, the character. It’s hard for me, just not being in the conversation with a lot of people, to really know what a guy’s value is, so to speak, financially.”

“I know this from my perspective [value] It’s about winning. [When] He’s healthy and he’s out there, he’s a really good player for us, and I really like him. So, from that standpoint, I’m just hoping everything works out to get back here next year, because I’ve got a lot of respect for him as a teammate and a worker. Just his mentality, his toughness.”

Collins is completing what remains of his two-year, $34.8 million contract. This was a deal he signed with the San Antonio Spurs. A deal that was later accepted by the Bulls.

Collins played ten games this season. He averaged 9.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. His last appearance was on December 27 against the Milwaukee Bucks. Collins came up with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds in the 112–103 loss.

After a 2024-25 season in which the Cleveland Cavaliers finished atop the Western Conference and still ended the season with a disappointment, the Cavs are looking to rebuild once again. The arrival of James Harden and an influx of stars headlined by Donovan Mitchell means the Cavs are once again seen as genuine title contenders.

And while Mitchell notched his 100th 30-point game for the Cavs against the Charlotte Hornets, his postgame comments will put an even bigger smile on fans’ faces.

Donovan on his 100th, 30-point game as a Cavalier:

“Hopefully I get 100, 200 more, that’s the goal. … I love being here, I love being a part of this group, I love being a part of this organization and this city. There’s a lot of Cavs fans out there coming to see the crowds we have on the road. Before I… pic.twitter.com/9e4tXeWx81

-RealCavsFans.com (@realcavsfans) 21 February 2026

“Hopefully I get 100, 200 more, that’s the goal. … I love being here, I love being a part of this group, I love being a part of this organization and this city. To see the crowd we have on the road, there are so many Cavs fans. Before I got here, I didn’t know how many people were actually from Ohio. To hear that wherever I go is special,” Mitchell told RealCavsFans.com As explained in a post on

The 29-year-old has established himself as one of the best scorers in the NBA, averaging 28.8 points per game (career-high), 5.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals. The win is Cleveland’s seventh consecutive win and 12th in the last 13 games.

The defining story was Mitchell’s acquisition in the fourth quarter. The All-Star guard finished with 32 points, including 13 in the final period.

And while Mitchell sealed the game, Jarrett Allen’s interior dominance was equally important. Allen contributed 25 points and 14 rebounds while Harden chipped in with 18 points and eight assists.

For the Hornets, Kon Knueppel had a 33-point performance with seven three-pointers, bringing his total three-pointers for the season to 193, the second-most by a rookie in the NBA. Despite trailing by 14 points after the first half, Knueppel’s effective shooting allowed the Hornets to get back into the game.

Nevertheless, the Hornets lost due to lack of support, with their second highest scorer Brandon Miller finishing with 18 points. The Cavs’ offensive talent proved too much in the end, helping them earn their seventh consecutive win.

The basketball world was shocked by the news that Billy Donovan Sr., father of Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan, has died. St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino was one of the first to get the message across, as he is a close friend of the family.

Pitino, formerly of X, wrote on Twitter, “He was no better than Billy Donovan Sr. A special man in every sense of the word. RIP my friend! You’re in heaven already.”

Pitino coached Donovan Jr. when he was a player at Providence and he later joined Pitino’s coaching staff at Kentucky.

Donovan’s father was an important part of his life and supported his basketball dreams at all times. He also used to take her to New York Knicks games when she was a kid.

“These last 15, 16 years for me have been — oh my God! — phenomenal,” Donovan Sr. said in a 2011 story written by GatorZone. “I used to play basketball growing up. When Billy was little, we’d watch games on television and I’d take him to see the Knicks. And now, to be able to be with the team and go to all the games and knowing that Billy wants me to be a part of it, I’m so lucky I can’t even tell you.”

Donovan Sr. played college basketball at Boston College and scored over 1,000 career points.

There’s no doubt that Donovan Sr. played a big role in his son’s life, and he’s still living it up as the Bulls’ coach.

More people will probably send prayers and condolences to the family in the coming days.

Recently, the NBA world was shocked to learn that Chris Paul will be retiring following his release from the Toronto Raptors. Paul was recently traded to the Raptors from the Los Angeles Clippers, who unofficially parted ways with him at the beginning of the year.

Previously, the future Hall of Famer announced that the 2025-26 season would be his last, and unfortunately, he didn’t get the farewell tour that some fans were hoping for.

Recently, Cleveland Cavaliers star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell spoke out about his disappointment in seeing Paul go out like this.

“I think he deserved a better way to go out. For a Hall of Famer, for a legend, for a point guard like that to go out like that… it’s definitely tough,” Mitchell said of Axe, formerly of ClutchPoints, on Twitter, according to Yahoo Sports.

Paul rejoined the Clippers before this season, but he was surprisingly sent home from the team in the middle of a road trip, with reports later alleging sourness between Paul and Clippers head coach Ty Lue.

Since then, Paul was technically still a member of the Clippers while away from the team, which changed with his eventual trade and release from the Raptors.

Paul is undoubtedly a future Hall of Famer who has elevated every team he has been on throughout his career, helping mentor league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander during his stint with the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2020 season, and even guiding the Phoenix Suns to within two games of the NBA Finals the following year.

Although his final chapter did not go as he had hoped, Paul will still be remembered as one of the great point guards of his generation, and arguably one of the last pure floor generals in the NBA landscape.

Obviously, he still has respect for his teammates.

Portland Trail Blazers fans are accustomed to seeing Yang Hansen and Donovan Clingan working together to clog up the paint at Moda Center. However, Friday night’s NBA Rising Stars game forced the Twin Towers into a rare confrontation, which left Klingon on the wrong side of a viral moment.

The energy inside the building soared as the two giants faced off, turning a friendly exhibition into a massive battle for bragging rights in the locker room.

The highlight of the night came when Hansen was isolated against the Klingons at the top of the Keys. Hansen, China’s 7-foot-3 skilled center, gave a quick shoulder shimmy before selling a fake jump shot that completely fooled his teammates.

Teammate on teammate crime!

Yang Hansen fakes Donovan Clingan for inside bucket

pic.twitter.com/Gw4YBup6Lo

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 14 February 2026

Klingon made things a little more difficult to pass, moving to the perimeter while Hansen calmly slid past him to the rim. Henson finished the game with an easy bucket and a cheeky smile, and clearly enjoyed the chance to put his fellow rookie on the highlight reel.

Henson finished as the high-point man for Team Austin, scoring 10 points and one rebound while going 4 of 5 from the free-throw line. Team Melo ultimately won 65–60, but Henson’s offensive versatility was the talk of the field.

Clingan, on the other hand, proved why he is a defensive threat by recording 3 rebounds, although those defensive stats may not be enough to nullify the pump fake just yet.

The game reached its climax when Dylan Harper hit the game-winning shot over his brother Ron Harper Jr., but the Trail Blazers’ internal rivalry provided the most entertaining subplot of the evening.

Portland has invested heavily in its frontcourt, and seeing both players flourish on the national stage confirms that the franchise is moving in the right direction.

The idea of ​​LeBron James returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers for one last dance would be attractive to star guard Donovan Mitchell.

Rumors of James signing with his first NBA team to finish his career have been circulating around the league. The veteran star is going through his eighth season and counting with the Los Angeles Lakers, but he will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Mitchell addressed those rumors during his interview on SiriusXM NBA Radio on Saturday. If James decides to return to Cleveland for his final season in the league, he is very open to this scenario, citing the special occasion.

“As a Browns fan, to be able to be a teammate, obviously, will be special,” Mitchell said during an interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio on Saturday.

“Yeah, man, it’s LeBron James. But at the end of the day, that’s not my focus. I’m not here to worry about that. I know I’ll be asked about it a lot throughout the weekend… but my focus is on the fact that we just traded for James Harden, Dennis Schroder, Keon Ellis. Let’s try to find a way to get a ring.”

“It’s LeBron James, right?”

Here are Donovan Mitchell’s thoughts on rumors that LeBron could end his career in Cleveland@terminradio | @jumpshot8

Click here for more All-Star coverage – https://t.co/j3RPgmlH7e pic.twitter.com/lm2My2U5HQ

– SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) 15 February 2026

Donovan Mitchell, what’s next for the Cavaliers

Donovan Mitchell is right to remain focused on the current season. The Cavaliers traded Darius Garland to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for James Harden, increasing their chances of being a serious contender for the remainder of the season.

Mitchell has been excelling as one of the best scorers in the league. In his fourth season with the Cavaliers, he has averaged 29 points, 5.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game in 51 appearances. He is shooting 48.7% from the field, including 37.6% from beyond the arc, and 85.3% from the free-throw line.

Cleveland has a record of 33–21 on the season, placing fourth in the Eastern Conference standings. They are two games up on the Toronto Raptors and 3.5 games up on the Philadelphia 76ers. However, they trail the New York Knicks by one game and the Boston Celtics by 1.5 games.

With five consecutive wins, the Cavaliers will remain on hiatus until All-Star Weekend festivities conclude. They will resume action at home when they host the Brooklyn Nets on February 19th at 7 PM ET.

NBA All-Star Weekend is finally here and all the festivities are starting in Los Angeles as one of the weekend’s longest-running events returns with a new group of players. Larry Bird, Stephen Curry, Mark Price and other greats have graced the stage in the NBA 3-Point Contest, but only one can emerge victorious on Saturday.

Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat won the competition in 2025, but was replaced by teammate Norman Powell. The Blazers’ Damian Lillard comes into the event having won two of his last three, but it’s the Charlotte Hornets’ rookie sharpshooter Kon Nueppel who comes in as the betting favorite. The Suns’ Devin Booker will also return after his memorable final round victory in 2018.

3-Point Contest Odds, courtesy of DraftKings

2026 NBA All-Star 3-Point Contest Odds

Kon Knuppel: +240
Damian Lillard: +400
Jamal Murray: +650
Devin Booker: +650
Tyrese Maxey: +700
Donovan Mitchell: +750
Norman Powell: +1000
Bobby Portis: +1200

overview

Each contestant will have 70 seconds (1:10) to pass five racks of five balls, each rack containing a “money ball”. In general, a regular basketball will be worth one point while a money ball will be worth two points. The fifth rack, which can be placed at any position by the participant, will exclusively contain five money balls. Finally, two “from the logo” spots will be designated with two shots for three points each.

Each player will take a total of 27 shots in the first round. The three highest scores will advance to the championship round, shooting in the reverse order of their total from the first round.

Main storyline, returning participants

The most interesting name to watch here is Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers, who has already won this championship two of the last three years. He is not expected to return to action during the 2025–26 season due to pain, but is determined to compete and regain his former crown. The Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell and the Heat’s Norman Powell return for another breakout season after a brief absence over the past two years.

Of all the contestants, Tyrese Maxey has had the best season and is garnering MVP votes for his performances with the 76ers this season. Kon Knueppel is challenging the Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg for “Rookie of the Year” and winning this contest could certainly raise his stock in the eyes of fans.

player to watch

Rookie Kon Nueppel is the clear betting favorite here, shooting 43.1% from deep on an average attempt ratio of 3.4-7.9 this season. Additionally, he is also adept at taking open looks, so this type of competition is tailored to his skill set. Players like Devin Booker and Donovan Mitchell provide a serious chance as they are both capable of catching heat from deep, but they can be considered more of in-game shooters.

The Milwaukee Bucks’ Bobby Portis actually has the highest three-point percentage in the entire field at 45.1%, so don’t be surprised if he is able to advance to the championship round. Making sure to conserve energy through all five racks is a lesson first-timers usually learn very late in the round, so expect Portis, Maxi and Knueppel to pace themselves early in this rack.

In terms of taking a risk in this contest, Devin Booker could be a solid choice as he has already won this contest. I expect Tyrese Maxey and Donovan Mitchell to go down early as they are more effective when heated up during the game, but players like Booker, Nueppel and Lillard could step up because of their rhythm.

Final 3-Point Contest Predictions and Winners

It’s hard to say how effective Damian Lillard will be in regaining his title while competing despite an injured Achilles. The Hornets’ Kon Knueppel seems to be the most obvious pick here due to his expertise on the three-point shot and if he is able to get off to a strong start he is the most capable of winning this contest.

Although he will be looking to work on his timing and find his rhythm for the first time in this competition, he has been playing like this against other opponents for most of the season. He is also likely to reach the ground early and hit some shots, making him a likely choice to win in his first outing.

Final Prediction: Conn Knueppel (+240)