Donovan Mitchell dropped 35 points in his final playoff game against the Indiana Pacers.
The Cleveland Cavaliers had a 19-point lead, blowing it away for Tyrese Haliburton and Co. to take over.
After a 64-win season, a 15-0 start, and a bench stacked with depth, Cavaliers fans had to deal with a disappointing Round 2 exit.
The Pacers didn’t just win, they dominated the court. And former NBA champion turned analyst Kendrick Perkins didn’t hold back, calling the Cavs’ season “a complete failure.”
Kendrick Perkins Goes Off Against Donovan Mitchell After Cleveland Cavaliers’ Collapse
Cleveland, the team with the second-best record in franchise history, exited the conference semifinals in five games.
Perkins remained unamused, calling out Mitchell and the team for their failure.
“A Donovan Mitchell led team has never been to a Conference Finals,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter). ” I don’t care how you slice it but this Season for the Cavs is a complete failure.”
A Donovan Mitchell led team has never been to a Conference Finals. I don’t care how you slice it but this Season for the Cavs is a complete failure
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins)
Mitchell, the face of Cleveland’s revival, put up monster numbers in Game 5 — 35 points, 9 boards, 4 steals, a block, but shot just 8/25 from the field.
His momentum suffered on the court, efficiency taking a hit as the Pacers emerged as a better team. Mitchell went viral after the game, sitting alone on the bench and dealing with a crushing loss.
Cavs star Donovan Mitchell came back out of locker room and sat on bench one last time after game — and season — ended. (Pic: @TheKennyRoda) pic.twitter.com/pSFH6ZmuR3
— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops)
The Cavaliers fanbase had come forth with hope this time, expecting a deep playoff run — or at least the conference semifinals.
Mitchell And Cleveland: From Hot Start to Cold Finish
Cleveland came in red hot this regular season, securing 15 straight wins to kick things off, along with three separate 10-game win streaks. Their effort fizzlied out in May.
The Cavaliers — who hadn’t lost back-to-back home games all year — were handed two straight Ls by the Pacers at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Many dismissed Mitchell as a leader, deeming him unworthy of leading a playoff team.
Mitchell was frustrated after the game, refusing to let anyone write them off.
Donovan Mitchell: "Getting beat down like this. And y'all are gonna write some shit about us, man, and that's gonna be fuel. Like, fuel for everybody. Y'all gonna say a lot of shit. Y'all are, and that's what it takes. I've been here, so I understand. We understand, and now we…
— Danny Cunningham (@RealDCunningham)
“Getting beat down like this. And y’all are gonna write some shit about us, man, and that’s gonna be fuel. Like, fuel for everybody. Y’all gonna say a lot of shit. Y’all are, and that’s what it takes. I’ve been here, so I understand. We understand, and now we just got to use it as fuel for next year,” Mitchell said postgame.
Indiana, on the flip side, is now on its way to the Eastern Conference Finals to face either the Boston Celtics or the New York Knicks.
Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are staring down a long summer. With questions about Mitchell’s future, roster depth, coaching strategies, and even the front office changes, the work is cut out for the team.
