Cavaliers Vs Pistons: Cavs Shorthanded as Harden and Mitchell Sit Out
The Cleveland Cavaliers entered the cavaliers vs pistons game shorthanded and lost 122-119 in overtime in Detroit. Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Keon Ellis and Dean Wade were all unavailable for Friday night’s contest.
Cavaliers Vs Pistons roster absences
The Cavaliers were missing four rotation players in Detroit. Donovan Mitchell and James Harden each missed their second straight game. Keon Ellis and Dean Wade were also out. The absence list applied to Friday night’s 122-119 overtime loss to the Pistons in Detroit.
Harden's thumb and treatment
James Harden fractured his right thumb on Tuesday night in the win over the New York Knicks. Initial X-rays showed a non-displaced fracture of the distal phalanx. He will not undergo surgery at this time and is expected to play through the injury, though he did not play Friday.
Harden wore a protective brace on his right thumb at shootaround Friday morning and attempted to dribble and shoot but still felt discomfort. Head coach Kenny Atkinson said, "I know this morning he was struggling a little, just dribbling. I mean, the thing's broken.... If you have a hard time dribbling and catching, that's [tough]. " The plan had been to have Harden go through pregame warmups and see how it went, but he did not come out for pregame warmups like usual.
Atkinson added that Harden is making progress: "It was improved from when he first did it. It wasn't like, man it feels the same. It's better than it was two days ago, so that's a positive. " Sources told Shams Charania this week that Harden plans to play through the injury, but the Cavaliers want him to reach a point where he can tolerate the pain. Atkinson emphasized, "We've got to get the feedback from James. I mean, there's no tougher guy in the league. No one more available. No one that wants to play more. So we'll see how it goes. " He also said Harden "did say it was improved from since he did it. It wasn't like, 'Man, it still feels the same. ' It was like, 'Man, it's better than it was two days ago. '"
Mitchell's groin and day-to-day
Donovan Mitchell is considered day-to-day with a right groin strain. Coach Kenny Atkinson said before Friday's game, "We don't love soft tissue injuries, obviously. The feedback I'm getting is that it's not a long-term thing. " Mitchell missed his second straight game against Detroit.
Ellis and Wade injuries
Keon Ellis sat out Friday after fracturing his left index finger in Wednesday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Ellis had played nine games for Cleveland since being acquired from the Sacramento Kings at the trade deadline, averaging 6. 4 points and shooting 51% as one of the team's key reserves.
Dean Wade, who had moved into the starting lineup in the past few months, is sidelined with a sprained right ankle.
Cavaliers momentum and trade details
The Harden addition has altered Cleveland's recent stretch. Cleveland went 6-1 in seven games with Harden in the lineup, with the lone loss on February 22 to Oklahoma City. In seven games with Cleveland, Harden was averaging 18. 9 points and 8. 0 assists; other game-by-game and season figures in the record include seven-game marks of 18. 9 points, 4. 6 rebounds and 8. 0 assists, with shooting of 49. 4% from the field and 48. 8% from three. Split-based figures for the seven-game Cavs stint were listed as. 494/. 488/. 867. On the season he has averaged 24. 5 points and 8. 1 assists in 51 games.
Recent individual outings cited include a 20-point, 9-assist game in the defeat to Oklahoma City and a 20-point performance (8-for-18 shooting, 4-for-7 from three) with 4 assists in a 109-94 victory over the Knicks. Harden was acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers in a trade on February 4 that sent Darius Garland to the Clippers. Cleveland sits at 37-22 overall in the standings in the context provided.
Coach on depth and outlook
Atkinson stressed the club's depth amid the absences. "We got great depth. I don't think we're in the position we are in without our depth, " he said. "Looking at the most injured teams this year, we're one of the few that's kind of stayed afloat. That's a fact. " Atkinson referenced a precedent in Jarrett Allen, saying Allen went through a similar issue earlier in the season when the team tried to bring him back and then had to give him more time.
Colin Keane is listed in the context as a contributing journalist; he graduated from Villanova University with a major degree in English and a minor degree in Business and covers NBA, MLB, NFL and college basketball. A photo credit in the provided context lists Feb 24, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; and Ken Blaze-Imagn Images.
Friday night's cavaliers vs pistons game finished 122-119 in overtime with Cleveland missing four players due to the injuries described above.
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