When the Cleveland Cavaliers needed a jolt to stop the bleeding, Donovan Mitchell didn’t blink; he went ballistic. Now, with Game 4 looming large, and his calf strain might come into the picture, all eyes are locked on one question: Is Mitchell ready to run it back?
The answer, thankfully for Cleveland fans, is a resounding yes. After torching the Indiana Pacers in Game 3, Mitchell is locked in for another heavyweight clash. And if his form holds, so is Cleveland’s shot at flipping this NBA playoff series.
Donovan Mitchell Is Healthy, and the Cavs Are Rolling
Cleveland’s 126-104 win in Game 3 wasn’t just a bounce-back but a statement. This team isn’t going down easy. And Mitchell? He scored 43 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and looked totally in control.
Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers’ offensive engine, got iced. Just four points. Barely any playmaking. No postgame quotes. It was like Cleveland took the batteries out of Indiana’s controller.
Mitchell’s role, of course, was front and center. He’s not just shooting well, he’s hunting mismatches, creating off the dribble, and bullying his way into the lane like he’s on a mission.
He’s now dropped 43 and 48 points in back-to-back playoff games. That’s superstar stuff.
Game 4: High Stakes, Healthy Stars, and One Clear Goal
Mitchell and Evan Mobley are both good to go for Sunday. No injuries holding them back, just playoff pressure and a shot to tie the series 2-2.
Mitchell has been having issues with a mild calf strain. But it’s nothing major to stop him from playing. The Cavaliers’ supporting cast hasn’t exactly been lights out. But there’s a fighting chance when Mitchell is operating like this, and Mobley is back to being the two-way beast Cleveland drafted him to be.
While they’ll need to be awake on the offensive end of the floor, they must also keep Haliburton and the Pacers quiet. While Haliburton was completely shut down, so was the rest of Indiana’s offense, as Cleveland stopped them from having a single 20-point scorer in Game 3. The off night was disappointing for Pacers fans in the team’s first home game of the series, but will they be able to bounce back?
Game 4 won’t just decide a tied series. It might shape how far this Cavaliers core can go together. A win resets the board, gives them home-court advantage, and maybe even buys Mitchell some breathing room. A loss? That puts Cleveland one L away from collapse.
But with Mitchell locked in and no injuries holding the team back, there’s no more room for excuses.