The Cleveland Cavaliers (50-29) are battling for the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race as the 2025-26 regular season enters its final days.
However, Cavaliers SG Donovan Mitchell is listed as questionable tonight with an ankle injury vs. the Hawks. If he's out, Cavs PG James Harden should benefit, as his usage jumps from 23.9% to 29.7% with Mitchell off the floor as the primary ball handler.
Harden is currently projected to 20.5 points and 33.5 PRA on PrizePicks tonight, where you can make your NBA picks to earn real money.
Will Mitchell play tonight when the Cavaliers host the Atlanta Hawks at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN?
Let’s take a look at the latest Donovan Mitchell injury update for Wednesday vs. the Hawks, plus some key stats and PrizePicks projections to monitor for Cavaliers player picks.
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Donovan Mitchell Injury Update vs. Hawks Tonight
The Cavaliers listed Donovan Mitchell as questionable for Wednesday’s game vs. the Hawks as a result of a right ankle sprain.
Mitchell missed Monday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies, which was the second night of a back-to-back for the Cavaliers. He did suit up on Sunday vs. the Indiana Pacers when he scored 38 points on 16-of-28 shooting in 33 minutes.
He has only missed consecutive games on one occasion throughout the 2025-26 season.
Mitchell has put together averages of 27.8 points, 5.7 assists, and 4.5 rebounds, while shooting 36.4% from beyond the arc.
Unlike some teams, the Cavs are still playing for playoff positioning. The Cavaliers are currently in the No. 4 seed in the East, one game back from the Knicks for the No. 3 seed.
If Mitchell can’t take the court on Wednesday, who could see an increase in production when it comes to NBA projections?
Donovan Mitchell Injury Impact: Which Cavaliers Players to Target?
With Mitchell’s status uncertain for Wednesday’s game, Cavaliers PG James Harden certainly could stand to benefit from Mitchell’s absence.
Harden has thrived since landing in Cleveland at the trade deadline, but has thrived in a small sample size without Mitchell on the court.
In three games without Mitchell, Harden has averaged 25.3 PPG, 8.0 APG, and 7.0 RPG, while connecting on 44.8% of his shots from beyond the arc. Harden is projected for 20.5 points and 4.5 rebounds on PrizePicks NBA tonight.
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Even when Mitchell is in the lineup, Harden is arguably the team’s top playmaker as he facilitates a large amount of Cleveland’s offense.
According to databallr, Harden spends 40.2% of his time on the ball when he’s on the court, which ranks in the 100th percentile. Harden also averages 18.8 potential assists per 100 possessions, ranking in the 99th percentile.
Harden has also enjoyed a considerable amount of success against the Hawks throughout his NBA career. He has averaged 25.4 PPG, 8.1 APG, and 5.8 RPG, while shooting 38.6% from three in 28 career games.
Since joining the Cavaliers, Harden has recorded averages of 20.5 PPG, 7.9 APG, and 5.0 RPG, while knocking down 44.0% of his shots from long range.
James Harden Stats, Projections vs. Hawks for Wednesday, April 8
Here are the most popular James Harden player projections for Hawks vs. Cavaliers tonight, via PrizePicks, where you can predict More or Less on player stats to earn real money if you're right.
Make your James Harden picks on PrizePicks vs. the Hawks!
- 20.5 Points
- 33.5 Pts + Rebs +Asts
- 28.5 Pts + Asts
- 8 Assists
- 4.5 Rebounds
Make Hawks vs. Cavaliers Picks on PrizePicks
It’s very possible that the Cavaliers could be without SG Donovan Mitchell against the Hawks on Wednesday evening, as he's listed as questionable.
With Mitchell potentially out of the lineup, there are still several Cavaliers picks to consider on PrizePicks, including projections for James Harden.
You can make your Hawks vs. Cavaliers picks on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks to earn real money.
Just pick at least two player stat projections, predict More or Less on them, and cash in if you're right. With PrizePicks Team Picks, you can also make predictions on game winners, spreads, and over/unders — now available in 35 states!
Stick around with the Playbook for continued NBA predictions, picks, and news every day until the 2026 NBA Finals.
