INDIANAPOLIS — Basketball fans can breathe a sigh of relief as the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers showcased their skill and determination on Friday night, defeating the Indiana Pacers 126-104 in a pivotal Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. This victory marks the Cavs' first win in the best-of-seven series, although they still trail 2-1.
Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson, who was recently honored as the NBA Coach of the Year, expressed his pride in the team’s performance. “You can see where we’ve upped our level,” he remarked. “I thought our spirit was great. Togetherness. Leadership. I felt like we played with our defensive identity, our force, our energy.” This strong showing was bolstered by the return of key players Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and De’Andre Hunter from injury, marking their first game back at full strength since April 23.
The Cavaliers wasted no time sending a message, scoring the first 11 points of the game and establishing a double-digit lead within the first three minutes. However, the Pacers displayed their resilience, managing to tie the game at 32 by the end of the first quarter. Atkinson then made a strategic decision to switch to a zone defense, which effectively disrupted Indiana's usually efficient offense. This tactical shift resulted in the Pacers being held to just 13 points in the second quarter, allowing the Cavs to build their largest lead of the series at that point.
By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Cavaliers held an 18-point lead and looked poised to secure a much-needed victory. However, the Pacers made a push, cutting the lead to 11 with just over eight minutes left in the game. Atkinson called a timeout as Indiana guard TJ McConnell rallied the home crowd. The haunting memories of a previous game, where the Cavs had squandered a seven-point lead in the closing seconds, loomed large.
Determined not to let history repeat itself, Donovan Mitchell rose to the occasion. He scored the next eight points for the Cavaliers, including two jumpers and an assist on a crucial three-pointer by Max Strus. Within a minute and a half, Cleveland had regained a comfortable 17-point lead. The Cavs eventually extended their advantage to a game-high 26 points before the end of the match, allowing them to empty the bench.
Mitchell ended the night with an impressive 43 points, shooting 14-of-29 from the field, including 5-of-13 from beyond the arc, and hitting 10-of-14 free throws in just 37 minutes. Strus contributed significantly with 20 points, while Mobley, despite playing through a sprained ankle, managed to score 18 points and grab 13 rebounds. Garland, returning from a two-week injury hiatus, added 10 points to the team's effort.
Despite the victory, Mitchell emphasized the need for continued focus. “This was a must win,” he stated. “Let one slip at home. Let the fans down at home. We had to find a way to bounce back and we did. But ultimately all we did was win one game. We haven’t done anything. We won one game. We got to do it again.”
As the Cavaliers prepare for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Sunday, the team remains committed to their goal of advancing further in the playoffs. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m., and fans will be eager to see if Cleveland can continue this momentum and even the series against Indiana.
