The last thing the Cleveland Cavaliers needed, even more than a heartbreaking loss on Tuesday night to the Pacers, was to see Donovan Mitchell on the ground writhing in pain.
Momentarily during Game 2's fourth quarter, that's where Mitchell was after taking a hard fall and appearing to have his neck bent at an awkward angle.
But Mitchell stayed in the game.
Afterward, he told Cleveland.com's Chris Fedor, "I'll be ready for Friday."
That's when Game 3 will be played. The Cavs face a 2-0 deficit in the conference semifinals after Tyrese Haliburton's clutch stepback 3-pointer won the game on Tuesday after the Pacers finished on an 8-0 run.
The Cavs were without Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and De'Andre Hunter due to injury.
Mitchell put the team on his back with 48 points.
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For 47 minutes, it looked like that'd be enough in a Herculean performance.
But the Pacers' late run spoiled the masterpiece and put the Cavaliers' season in grave danger.
The Eastern Conference's top seed will have to reverse course while on the road in Indiana, too.
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At least they know they'll have Mitchell.
Now they're waiting on some positive injury news on a few of their other key pieces.
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