CLEVELAND (AP) — Slouched in a chair in front of his corner locker, Donovan Mitchell’s white leggings were torn and there was a blood stain near his right knee.
His healthy knee.
Mitchell scored 33 points in another stellar performance, but Cleveland’s All-Star guard didn’t get nearly enough help as the Cavaliers were outgunned by the Boston Celtics, who won Game 3 106-93 on Saturday night t o take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Mitchell appeared to aggravate a left knee injury in the fourth quarter and wasn’t even on the floor for the finish. With the Celtics up by 13, he headed straight to the locker room for treatment with Game 4 on Monday less than 48 hours away.
The Cavs couldn’t duplicate their strong Game 2 performance in Boston, and were doomed on their home court by a slow start in the third quarter when the Celtics scored the first 14 points and opened a 23-point lead.