Craig Porter Gets Rare Start as Cavaliers Face Wizards Without Harden, Mitchell

**TL;DR:** Craig Porter gets his third start of the season as the Cavaliers face the Wizards in their regular-season finale without James Harden and Donovan Mitchell.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will close their season with a depleted roster. James Harden is resting. Donovan Mitchell is out with an ankle injury. Several other rotation players are unavailable. That opens the door for Craig Porter to start on Sunday against Washington.

Porter has logged just two previous starts this season. His most recent came on January 16 against Philadelphia. He played 22 minutes, recorded 11 assists, and added 3 rebounds while scoring 2 points. The assist total stands out for a player averaging 17.8 minutes per game this season.

The Wizards own the NBA's worst record. Cleveland enters the game with little to play for beyond evaluating depth. Porter's ball distribution in limited minutes suggests he can handle increased responsibility. The 11 assists against Philadelphia came without turnover issues, a sign of composure against NBA competition.

This start offers the Cavaliers a low-stakes look at a player who could factor into their rotation next season. Mitchell's ankle injury is not considered serious, but his absence Sunday underscores how thin Cleveland's roster has become. Porter's performance will inform whether he warrants a larger role in 2025-26.

Watch for how many minutes Porter logs and whether his assist numbers translate against a Washington defense that ranks near the bottom of the league in points allowed per game.