Donovan Mitchell Injury Update: All-Star Guard's Status For NBA Emirates Cup vs. Raptors in Jeopardy (Oct. 31)

Donovan Mitchell may have suffered a setback early in the Cleveland Cavaliers' 2025-2026 NBA regular season campaign. A day before their NBA Emirates Cup debut against the Toronto Raptors on Friday, Oct. 31, Mitchell's status was listed as questionable.

According to the Cavaliers' injury report, Mitchell is nursing left hamstring tightness ahead of their game against the Raptors.

He was also listed with the same injury in their previous game against the Celtics, yet he still played 32 minutes and put up 15 points and six assists, albeit in a losing effort.

Mitchell's hamstring seemed to have bothered him since the start of the season, as he reportedly asked for a substitution sometime in the Cavaliers' season-opener against the New York Knicks after holding his hamstring.

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He joined four other Cavaliers players who are on the injury report, including his co-star Darius Garland, who is still recovering from surgery on his foot. Others include Jarrett Allen (finger), Sam Merrill (hip), and Max Strus (foot).

If he misses the game, it will be Mitchell's first absence this season after putting up impressive performances to start the season.

In the first five games of the season, Mitchell averaged 28.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per game on 54% shooting from the field.

The Cavaliers have won three of their first five games to open the season.

Cleveland is grouped with the Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, and the Washington Wizards in East A for the NBA Cup.

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Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson believes Donovan Mitchell remains underrated

Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson has expressed great belief in his star player Donovan Mitchell to start the 2025-2026 campaign.

According to Atkinson, Mitchell remained one of the most underrated players in the league as he wondered why few people were talking about his performances.

"No. I think he's underrated,” he said. “First team All-NBA. I don't know why people don't talk about him more. Probably because he's no controversy, low key, humble, does that equal underrated because of the personality? I don't know.”

This season, the Cavaliers are looking for a breakthrough in the Eastern Conference after losing in the second round of the playoffs last season.

Edited by Rob Andrew Lo