In a raucous Gainbridge Fieldhouse that threatened to swallow them whole, Donovan Mitchell‘s Cavaliers arrived facing the unthinkable: a 0–2 hole in the Eastern Conference semifinals, with every whisper forecasting their demise.
Facing a hostile sea of navy and gold, Donovan Mitchell answered every taunt with a basket, every doubt with a dagger three, and every desperation timeout with renewed ferocity.
By game’s end, “Spida” had poured in 43 points, drawn nine rebounds and five assists, and single-handedly swung the series back to Cleveland’s favor in a 126–104 rout of the Indiana Pacers.
Donovan Mitchell Thrusted Into Jordan’s Exclusive Club
Cleveland’s season teetered on the brink after two gut-wrenching home losses, making Friday night’s tilt truly do-or-die. The Cavs, who boasted the NBA’s best regular-season record, had seen their vaunted defense unravel late in Games 1 and 2, surrendering multiple comebacks to Tyrese Haliburton and Co.
But on the road, amidst the deafening roar for Indiana, Cleveland turned the script around from the tip-off, opening an 11–0 burst that dictated the tone of the evening.
During the second quarter, Mitchell punctuated a 34–13 Cavs comeback with consecutive pull-up threes and a characteristic fadeaway, silencing Pacers fans. It was a complete performance designed to wrest momentum away from Indiana and deliver it squarely to Cleveland.
According to ClutchPoints, Mitchell became the eighth player in NBA history to log 29+ field-goal attempts and over nine free-throw attempts in three straight playoff games. This put him alongside Michael Jordan and LeBron James in this rarefied company.
Earlier in this series, Mitchell opened Game 1 with 33 points, marking his eighth consecutive playoff series opener of 30+ points—a streak that eclipsed Michael Jordan’s previous record of seven.
What Lies Ahead for Mitchell and His Cavaliers
While Mitchell’s brilliance grabbed headlines, Max Strus chipped in 20 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, keeping the Pacers within reach whenever they threatened to rally.
Jarrett Allen added 19 points with 12 rebounds, and Mobley’s 18 points alongside 13 rebounds dominated the glass. The Cavs continued with the onslaught that was started by the Spida.
With the series now at 2–1 and Cleveland riding a surge of energy, Game 4 on Sunday looms as another must-win battleground. The Pacers will look to reclaim control and avoid letting the Cavs complete a historic comeback.
For Cleveland, the blueprint is clear. It is to ride Mitchell’s hot hand, maintain the rebounding edge, and keep the defensive pressure high to avoid a 3–0 hole that no team in NBA history has erased.