Is James Harden Playing Tonight? Cavaliers vs. Pistons Injury Report Is Brutal
The Cleveland Cavaliers head to Detroit tonight for a pivotal Eastern Conference showdown against the Pistons — and they are doing it battered and shorthanded. James Harden is listed as questionable with a fractured right thumb for tonight's game, Friday, February 27 ET at 7:00 PM ET. The short answer: unclear, and it may come down to a pregame decision.
James Harden Fractured His Thumb Against the Knicks on Tuesday
James Harden was injured during Tuesday night's 109-94 win over the New York Knicks. Harden was examined by the Cavaliers' medical staff after the game and X-rays on Wednesday showed a non-displaced fracture of the distal phalanx of his right thumb. He was initially listed as questionable against Milwaukee on Wednesday night before being downgraded to out.
The plan for Harden, who visited with a hand specialist on Wednesday, is to play through his thumb injury and not undergo surgery. That doesn't necessarily mean Harden will be available for tonight's game against the Pistons, but he shouldn't miss much — if any — time as he and the team focus on managing the pain with treatment. Surgery is off the table entirely.
Donovan Mitchell Is OUT Tonight — Second Straight Miss
Harden missed Wednesday's 118-116 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks after suffering the right thumb fracture. Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell will miss his second straight game after enduring a right groin strain. Mitchell's absence alongside Harden's uncertain status leaves the Cavaliers dramatically short-handed in the backcourt tonight.
Mitchell has a right groin strain and will not participate tonight against Detroit. Max Strus, who is nursing a left foot Jones fracture, is also out. The back-to-back nature of Cleveland's recent schedule — five games in seven nights — has clearly taken a physical toll across the entire roster.
Cleveland's Full Injury Report Is a Nightmare: Five Players Affected
Keon Ellis has a left index finger fracture, Dennis Schroder has a right ankle sprain, Dean Wade has a right ankle sprain, and Harden is listed with his right thumb fracture — all questionable. Mitchell and Max Strus are both confirmed out. That is six players on the injury report heading into a road game.
Since being traded from the LA Clippers to Cleveland on February 4, Harden has been averaging 18.9 points, eight assists, and just under five rebounds per game in 32 minutes per night as a primary creator alongside Mitchell. The Cavaliers have gone 6-1 with Harden active — making his questionable status tonight all the more significant.
Cavaliers Are Heavy Underdogs in Detroit Tonight
The timing of the injury crisis could not be worse. The Cavs enter tonight's game as the obvious underdog against the high-flying Pistons, who boast an 8-2 record in their last 10 games. MVP candidate Cade Cunningham dropped 29 points in Detroit's last outing, and center Jalen Duren also contributed 29 in that win.
Data shows Detroit with a 73.8% win probability against Cleveland tonight. Coach Kenny Atkinson hopes players like Jaylon Tyson, Jarrett Allen, and whoever is available from the backcourt depth can step up in the absence of Mitchell and with Harden's limited availability — but the Cavaliers will be playing with a drastically reduced rotation in hostile territory. At 37-22 on the season and tied for third in the Eastern Conference, the Cavs can ill afford a prolonged injury slide with the playoff seeding race heating up.
