The Game 1 loss for the Cavaliers at home versus the Pacers was casually shrugged off. Darius Garland didn’t play and Cleveland may have been a little rusty after dispatching the Miami Heat in four games during the first round. Cleveland converted only 9-of-38 from downtown.
The Game 2 loss was devastating. Despite being without Garland, Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter, Donovan Mitchell donned the cape and led the Cavaliers to a 17-point lead after the first quarter. That swelled to 20 points, but was cut down to seven points. There were only 50 seconds left, though.
After Tyrese Haliburton’s three-pointer with 1.1 second left, Cleveland found themselves down 0-2, with the series heading to Indiana.
There was no doubt that Cleveland would come out in Game 3 with fervor, especially with Garland, Mobley and Hunter back in the mix. It scored 32 points in the first quarter, but the Pacers were up to the task, taking the blows and putting up 32 points themselves.
In the second quarter, though, Cleveland pressed the NOS button and rocketed for 34 points while holding Indiana to only 13 points. It then cruised to the 126-104 victory and took the first step in coming back in the series.
Donovan Mitchell ($9,500; 65.25 FPTS) was once again brilliant, finishing with 43 points, nine rebounds, five assists and a steal in 37 minutes. He shot 14-of-29 from the field, 5-of-13 from downtown and 10-of-14 from the line.
Evan Mobley ($8,000; 54.25 FPTS) stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and three steals.
Max Strus ($5,000; 43.25 FPTS) got the start and played 33 minutes, contributing 20 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and a block. He shot 8-of-12 from the field and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc.
Jarrett Allen ($6,800; 41 FPTS) put up 19 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and two blocks.
Darius Garland ($6,900; 14.75 FPTS) only played 25 minutes and shot poorly, going 3-of-11 from the field and 2-of-7 from downtown. He finished with 10 points, a rebound and three assists.
For the Pacers, only one player received 30 minutes of action, and that was Tyrese Haliburton ($9,000; 12 FPTS). He finished with only four points and five assists.
T. J. McConnell ($3,700; 29.5 FPTS) played 21 minutes off the bench and contributed 12 points, six rebounds and seven assists.
Bennedict Mathurin ($3,900; 26.75 FPTS) led the team with 23 points in 27 minutes. Unfortunately, that’s pretty much all he did, as he grabbed one rebound and racked up one steal.
Game 4 is Sunday in Indiana.
