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Tim Bontemps, ESPN
BOSTON — The Cleveland Cavaliers were without three of their top six players — led by star guard Donovan Mitchell — for Game 5 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.
Mitchell is dealing with a left calf strain; Jarrett Allen is ailing with a bruised rib; and Caris LeVert, who replaced Mitchell in the starting lineup for Game 4 before being added to the injury report Tuesday, is out with a bone bruise in his left knee. All were sidelined for what could be Cleveland’s final game of the season.
The Cavaliers, trailing 3-1, need a win Wednesday to force the series back to Cleveland for Game 6 on Friday night.
Mitchell missed Cleveland’s 109-102 loss in Game 4 on Monday night with the same injury, which occurred late in the fourth quarter of Boston’s Game 3 victory Saturday. Mitchell began limping on the court after playing more than 22 consecutive minutes in the second half.
Mitchell wasn’t on the court when the media was allowed into shootaround Wednesday morning at TD Garden, though he later emerged and sat on the sidelines in workout gear before walking out with his teammates. LeVert did the same thing after he was also listed as questionable for Game 5.
Allen wasn’t visible at any point during shootaround. A bruised rib has kept him out for seven consecutive games. He hasn’t played since Game 4 of Cleveland’s first-round series against the Orlando Magic.