The Cleveland Cavaliers’ playoff hopes are dangling by a thread after a disastrous Game 4 showing against the Indiana Pacers, where they not only suffered a 129-109 defeat but also saw their star player, Donovan Mitchell, head to the locker room.
What Is Mitchell’s Status?
Mitchell’s current status for Game 5 is questionable, but he went down after suffering an ankle injury and did not return the rest of Game 4, casting a massive shadow over the Cavs’ chances of staging a 3-1 comeback.
The severity of Mitchell’s injury still remains in the air. Coach Atkinson was asked about Mitchell’s injury postgame.
“He’ll get an MRI tomorrow,” said Atkinson. “ “No idea yet [in terms of availability for Game 5.]”
The game was a nightmare for the Cavs from the tip. The Pacers came out firing, building an overwhelming 80-39 lead by halftime. This lead was tied for the largest halftime lead in the postseason in NBA history.
Cleveland seemed lackluster on both ends of the floor, allowing Indiana to shoot 53% from the field and a scorching 43% from beyond the arc. Seven Pacers players ended the game in double digits and Indiana simply overpowered Cleveland to a point of no return.
For the Cavaliers, Mitchell’s performance even before his injury was a far cry from his usual playoff brilliance. He managed only 12 points on an abysmal 27% shooting from the field with just one rebound. A steep decline for a player known for his facilitation and scoring ability, Mitchell’s absence — physically and metaphorically — complicates an already dire situation for Cleveland.
While the Cavs recently welcomed back Darius Garland and Evan Mobley from injury, their presence was not enough to counter the Pacers’ relentless offense. The Game 4 loss was so lopsided that it will be hard for the Cavs to recover mentally.
Now facing a steep 3-1 series deficit, the Cavs are on the verge of postseason elimination after a historical regular season. Only 13 teams in NBA history have ever come back from a 3-1 hole, and without their primary star, Cleveland’s odds seem slim to none. Coach Kenny Atkinson will need to rally his remaining players and pray for a miracle if they hope to extend their postseason run.
Cavaliers Head Coach Hails the Indiana Pacers
When asked about the Game 4 meltdown by the Cavs, Atkinson commended the utter firepower of Indiana.
“Complete domination by [Indiana.] They dominated us in every facet of the game. They dominated with their force. They raised their game to another level and we didn’t match it,” said Atkinson. “We talked about it, we knew it was coming. You try to prepare for these things, you try to prepare your guys mentally. But for whatever reason, their force was greater in every sense.”
The Cavs now head back home, facing a must-win Game 5 with their season hanging in the balance. While Cavs fans eagerly await updates on Mitchell’s status, the immediate outlook for Cleveland is nothing short of grim. For a team that entered the playoffs as the No.1 of their conference, their postseason collapse has been catastrophic, to say the least.
