2 min read • March 29, 2024
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Cleveland Cavaliers star guard Donovan Mitchell made his return Friday night from a nasal fracture that required surgery in mid-March.
He played 32 minutes in a 117-114 win over the 76ers, scoring 12 points while shooting 4-13 from the field and 1-7 from 3-point range.
Prior to Friday, Mitchell had played just two games in March while dealing with a bone bruise in his left knee that he suffered in the final game of February.
He received a platelet-rich plasma injection the first week of March, then attempted to play through the injury on March 13 and suffered the nasal fracture in a March 16 game against the Houston Rockets.
The former Jazz guard shot a combined 9 for 29 in those two games, including 7 for 17 from 3-point range.
With the extra time to rest his knee, Mitchell should be near 100% in his return and shouldn’t have any issues down the stretch and in the playoffs.
He is averaging 27.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 49 games this season while shooting 46.8% from the field and 37.3% from 3-point range.
The Cavs have gone 11-13 without Mitchell in the lineup this season and 33-16 with him playing.
As of Friday morning, Cleveland (44-29) sits in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, a half game behind the New York Knicks and 1.5 games ahead of the Orlando Magic.
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