Depleted Cavaliers facing NBA's best team in East rival Detroit

What a time to be facing the team with the best record in the NBA. The Cavaliers are banged up heading into their game at Detroit tonight. Leading scorer Donovan Mitchell, seventh in the league in scoring at 28.5 points per game, has been ruled out with a right groin strain. The first-team All-NBA player also missed the Milwaukee game Wednesday. Four other players are listed as questionable, including point guard James Harden, who suffered a right thumb fracture in the victory over New York on Tuesday and was also sidelined vs. the Bucks. Veteran Dennis Schroder, who scored 26 points in the 118-116 loss to Milwaukee, is also questionable with a right ankle sprain. He suffered the injury late in the Bucks game and was limping noticeably. If Harden and Schroder are sidelined, Craig Porter Jr. would likely start, with two-way player Darius Brown II serving as the backup. Also questionable is guard Keon Ellis, who suffered a left index finger fracture against Milwaukee. Ellis was all over the court against the Bucks with 14 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block. The fourth player questionable is forward Dean Wade, who has a sprained right ankle. Two others are out, including swingman Max Strus (foot surgery) and forward Riley Minix (G League). Cleveland (37-23) is facing the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons (43-14) for the third time this season. The teams also play at Rocket Arena on Tuesday. The Cavs are 13-2 against Detroit over their last 15 matchups since 2022. Cleveland is also 13-3 in their last 16 games and possess a 20-7 record since Dec. 29, which is the best winning percentage in the NBA (.741). Cleveland hammered the Pistons at Little Caesars Arena 116-95 Oct. 27, which is Detroit's worst loss of the season. The Pistons trimmed the Cavs 114-110 Jan. 4. Cavs center Jarrett Allen erupted for a game-high 27 points and 11 rebounds against Milwaukee, which marked his 18th double-double of the season and ninth in the last 10 games. He'll be facing All-Star center Jalen Duren in tonight's game in Detroit. Allen surpassed 8,000 career points with his 13th point in Milwaukee. The Cavs are 14-4 this season when he records a double-double. In his last 10 games since Feb. 1, Allen is averaging 22 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks and is shooting .731 from the field (87-of-119). He's the first Cavs player to average at least 22 points, 11 rebounds and 1.3 blocks since Zydrunas Ilgauskas in 2005. The 6-foot-11, 248-pounder said he's playing the best basketball of his career. "The numbers speak for themselves," Allen said. Power forward Evan Mobley, who sat out of the Milwaukee game for injury management, was not listed on the injury report and is expected to start against the Pistons. Bob Finnan can be reached at rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on X.