Donovan Mitchell's eye injury improving despite scary appearance

Cavaliers star admits eye "looks worse than it is" as he continues to play through bruised left eye

Mar. 25, 2026 at 5:39am

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Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell sustained a bruised left eye in practice a week ago, but has continued to play through the injury. Despite the eye's gnarly, bloodshot appearance, Mitchell says the injury is improving and that "it looks worse than it is." He scored a game-high 42 points in the Cavaliers' 136-131 win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday.

Why it matters

As a perimeter player and one of the Cavaliers' primary ball-handlers and playmakers, Mitchell's vision is crucial to his success. The fact that he has been able to continue performing at a high level while dealing with the eye injury is a testament to his toughness and ability to adapt.

The details

Mitchell collided with teammate Evan Mobley during a Cavaliers practice in mid-March, resulting in the bruised left eye. He missed one game due to the injury, which caused his eye to appear bloodshot, but has since played through it. Against the Magic, Mitchell scored 42 points to lead the Cavaliers to victory, proving he can still be effective despite the impaired vision.

  • Mitchell sustained the eye injury in a practice in mid-March.
  • He missed one game due to the injury.
  • Mitchell played through the injury and scored 42 points against the Magic on March 25, 2026.

The players

Donovan Mitchell

A star guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers who has continued to play at a high level despite a bruised left eye.

Evan Mobley

A Cavaliers teammate of Mitchell's who was involved in the collision that resulted in Mitchell's eye injury.

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What they’re saying

“I can see now, so finally, it's been a few games. It's good, it's been an interesting few days. Doctors say that I'm fine, but if I close this eye, it's definitely a little blurry. It worked out tonight, so I'm getting better... This looks worse than it is.”

— Donovan Mitchell

What’s next

As the season progresses, Mitchell will continue to recover from the bruised left eye, and the Cavaliers will look to maintain their position in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The takeaway

Mitchell's ability to play through the eye injury and continue performing at a high level is a testament to his toughness and adaptability as a player. The Cavaliers will need him at full strength as they make a push for the playoffs, and Mitchell's recovery will be crucial to their success.