The Boston Celtics punched their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday with a decisive 113-98 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, who were missing their star player, Donovan Mitchell, due to injury. However, Ric Flair, a notable name in the sports world, was not thrilled with Mitchell’s decision to ride the bench.
Few expected the Cavaliers to challenge the Celtics significantly in this second-round showdown, as Boston entered the series as overwhelming favorites. While the Cavs managed a win in Game 2, the Celtics wrapped up a gentlemen’s sweep with Wednesday’s victory.
Cleveland faced devastating news before the contest, learning that Donovan Mitchell would miss his second consecutive game due to a calf strain sustained at the end of Game 3. The team also played without Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert (who had replaced Mitchell in Game 4). Mitchell’s absence was a significant blow, as he led the team in scoring during the regular season and the playoffs, averaging 29.6 points per game.
With their season on the line, it’s clear that Mitchell’s injury was severe enough to keep him from playing in the elimination game. However, this decision did not sit well with Ric Flair, a diehard Cavaliers fan since his friendship with LeBron James during his Cleveland tenure.
Upon learning of Mitchell’s inactive status, Flair took to Twitter to criticize the guard for not playing through the pain, referencing his own history of overcoming injuries during his wrestling career. Although Flair eventually deleted the tweet, the internet never forgets.
Damn, Ric. Tell us how you really feel.
