CLEVELAND — As the final buzzer echoed throughout the arena, marking the end of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ season, Donovan Mitchell took a moment on the bench, seemingly lost in thought. His phone remained in hand, but it was clear his mind was elsewhere. The weight of the moment hung heavy in the air as he struggled to process the Cavs’ premature exit from the playoffs.
“I just couldn’t believe it,” Mitchell reflected on the team’s 114-105 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. “Didn’t want to believe it. Still don’t want to believe it.”
The Cavaliers had come into the playoffs with high hopes, having dominated the Eastern Conference all season long. They stormed out of the gate with a stunning 15-0 start and rattled off three impressive 10-game winning streaks, ultimately finishing with the second-best record in franchise history. But despite their regular-season prowess, they were upended by the Pacers in a 4-1 series defeat.
Indiana will move on to face the Boston Celtics or New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals, marking a disappointing end to an otherwise remarkable season for the Cavs. They had not lost back-to-back home games until this critical series, and they even squandered a 19-point lead in Game 5.
“I love playing in that f—ing arena,” Mitchell expressed, clearly feeling the disappointment of the moment. “That energy, that crowd. We were 0-3 at home, let the city down. This place is special, and we didn’t get it done.”
This defeat places the Cavaliers in a rare historical context as they became just the fourth team in NBA history to win at least 64 games in the regular season yet fail to advance beyond the second round.
Individually, Mitchell was nothing short of exceptional throughout the series, averaging 34.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists, all while battling through a left ankle injury sustained in Game 4. He fought valiantly in Game 5, ultimately scoring 35 points despite a challenging shooting night that saw him go 8-of-25 from the field.
In the larger picture, Mitchell has established himself as a postseason force, boasting a playoff scoring average of 28.3 points—a figure that stands as the seventh highest in NBA history. However, despite making the playoffs in all eight seasons of his career, he’s found himself unable to push past the second round.
“We’ve had a lot of positives,” he said, emphasizing the need for the team to capitalize on their successes. “Now we’ve got to use this motivation. Everybody’s going to write us off.”
The series was not without challenges, as injuries to several key players took their toll. Darius Garland had to sit out the first two games due to a sprained left big toe, and while he returned to the lineup, he averaged just 14 points on 34% shooting across three games. Both Evan Mobley, last season’s Defensive Player of the Year, and De’Andre Hunter, an impactful trade-deadline acquisition, missed Game 2 due to injuries sustained in the series opener. Mobley played well overall, averaging 18 points and 9.8 rebounds, though he struggled in crucial moments, contributing just 11 points through the final quarters of the series.
Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson maintained a measured perspective, recognizing both the positives and the need for improvement. “I don’t want to say that’s the reason—we’ve got to give credit to Indiana as the better team.” He also noted that while the team had made strides, they still had to learn how to match the intensity of their opponents.
“I do feel like we got better,” Atkinson said. “From a team aspect and individually. But we didn’t get to the level we wanted to get to. So, I’m not pleased with that. And we’re not celebrating the season, if that all makes sense. But I do think we made strides.”
Despite the sting of elimination, Mitchell echoed Atkinson’s sentiments about the season’s overall progress. He remains optimistic about the team’s future and believes that the core group can come back stronger. “I’ll go to bat for every guy in that locker room,” he asserted. “Winning is not easy. Some things have to go right. You got to play well, got to capitalize on opportunities. We have a window with this group; I believe in everybody in here, and we believe in each other.”
With determination in his voice, Mitchell set a tone of resilience. “So, get in the gym, weight room, nutrition, whatever it is, and get back at it. Because y’all are going to write us the f— off, man.” For the Cavs, while the season ended in disappointment, the commitment to come back stronger is clear—both for Mitchell and the entire franchise.
