As the final buzzer echoed through the arena and emotions ran high after a remarkable 64-win season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell settled on the bench, processing the gravity of the moment. His phone rested in his hands, but his focus was far beyond the screen. The frustration etched on his face told a story of disbelief.
“I just couldn’t believe it,” Mitchell reflected after the Cavs’ 114-105 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 5. “Didn’t want to believe it. Don’t want to believe it. Still don’t want to believe it.”
The Cavaliers had dominated the Eastern Conference throughout the season, kicking things off with an incredible 15-0 record and stringing together three different 10-game winning streaks. Yet, the postseason presented an unexpected hurdle as they fell to the Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals in a 4-1 series defeat. The Pacers, who managed to win all three games played in Cleveland, are now set to face either the Boston Celtics or the New York Knicks in the conference finals.
A remarkable aspect of this loss was how the Cavaliers, who hadn’t experienced consecutive home defeats all season, let a 19-point first-half lead slip away. Mitchell couldn’t hide his disappointment. “I love playing in that f—ing arena,” he said, reflecting on the passionate crowd and the atmosphere. “We were 0-3 at home, let the city down. This place is special. This place is really special and we didn’t get it done.”
In a disappointing twist, the Cavaliers have now joined a dubious club as the fourth team in NBA history to secure at least 64 wins in a regular season without advancing past the second round. Mitchell had been a beacon of hope for the Cavs, showcasing his offensive prowess with an average of 34.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game despite a nagging left ankle injury. He even managed to contribute 35 points in Game 5, albeit on a challenging shooting night—8-of-25 overall and 4-of-13 from deep.
Even with his performance, Mitchell faces a harsh statistic: throughout his eight-year career, he’s compiled an impressive playoff scoring average of 28.3 points, ranking seventh in NBA history. Yet, he has not made it past the second round in all his postseason appearances. “We’ve had a lot of positives,” he said, emphasizing the team’s potential. “But we didn’t capitalize. Now we’ve got to use this motivation. Everybody’s going to write us off.”
The series was marred by injuries to crucial players. Darius Garland was sidelined for the first two games with a sprained left big toe, making a low-key return to average 14.0 points on just 34% shooting in the series. Both Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter missed Game 2 due to injuries sustained in the opener, with Mobley managing to average 18.0 points and 9.8 rebounds but underperforming in crucial moments, scoring merely 11 points in the last three fourth quarters.
Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson acknowledged the disappointment but also recognized the team’s evolution over the season. “You just wish you were whole, but I don’t think that’s an excuse,” he stated. “I don’t want to say, ‘oh that’s the reason,’ that’s not the reason. They were the better team.” He noted the Cavs struggled to meet the physicality and intensity presented by the Pacers throughout the series.
“I do feel like we got better,” Atkinson continued, highlighting both individual and team progress. “But the truth of the matter is 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. I think we took a jump.”
Mitchell shared this sentiment, describing the season as a step forward despite the bitter end. “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, we believe in each other. That’s what sucks—we’re a good team. And for five games … we didn’t show what we’re capable of. Ultimately, that’s what we’re judged on.”
With resilience in his voice, Mitchell set the tone for the future: “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. We’ll be back. Let the city down, let each other down. But we’ll be back.”
