Craig Porter Gets Third Start of Season as Cavs Face Wizards Without Harden, Mitchell

**TL;DR:** Craig Porter gets his third start of the season for the Cavaliers on Sunday against the Wizards, with the team missing James Harden, Donovan Mitchell and several other rotation players.

The Cavaliers will be significantly shorthanded for their game against the Wizards on Sunday. James Harden is resting, Donovan Mitchell is out with an ankle injury, and several other key rotation players will not play. The team promoted Craig Porter to the starting lineup as a result.

Porter's last start came on January 16 against the 76ers. He played 22 minutes and recorded 2 points, 11 assists, and 3 rebounds. The 11 assists in that limited playing time suggest playmaking ability when given opportunity. He is averaging 17.8 minutes per game this season but should see significantly more action against Washington.

This marks Porter's third start of the season, indicating the Cavaliers view him as a viable option when depth is needed. With multiple regulars unavailable, the second-year guard gets another chance to prove he can handle extended minutes. The Wizards, who are also resting key players for the regular-season finale, present a favorable matchup for increased playing time.

What to watch: How Porter performs with a heavier workload could determine his role heading into the postseason.