Mitchell denied any issues with his form and emphasized that the Cavaliers were not afraid of adversity.

May 22 - According to the Associated Press, Donovan Mitchell reiterated that he is in great physical condition, even better than expected, after the Cleveland Cavaliers' Game 2 loss in the Eastern Conference Finals. However, with the Cleveland Cavaliers trailing the New York Knicks 0-2, discussions about his health continue.

Head coach Kenny Atkinson said that Mitchell moved a little sluggishly in the first half, scoring only 7 points, but clearly regained his rhythm in the second half, contributing 26 points in total, and did not complain to the coaching staff about his injury. Atkinson also said, "I asked him if he wanted to play in the fourth quarter, and he said 'I'm fine,' so I think he's fine."

Despite Mitchell's improvement in Game 2, the Cavaliers remained struggling overall, particularly under immense defensive pressure against the combined efforts of Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. The team also shot only 37% from the field, made 9 of 35 three-pointers, and missed 10 free throws.

“This isn’t the first time we’ve experienced this,” Mitchell said. “It’s also not the first time we’ve faced adversity. We’ve already played two Game 7s, so being down 0-2 isn’t the biggest challenge.”

Center Jarrett Allen acknowledged that the packed schedule might cause fatigue, but refused to use it as an excuse. Mitchell, on the other hand, firmly stated that the team was "not tired" and emphasized that they would prepare fully for Game 3, striving to turn the tide and overcome the 0-2 deficit.

Image source: Internet