INDIANAPOLIS — The Cleveland Cavaliers are on the brink of a nightmare postseason as they suffered a significant defeat against the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The top-seeded Cavaliers were embarrassed with a score of 129-109, placing them in a precarious position with the Pacers leading the best-of-seven series, 3-1.
Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson did not hold back in his assessment of the game, stating, “Complete domination by them. Every facet.” He acknowledged that it wasn't merely tactical; the Pacers outperformed the Cavaliers in every aspect of the game. The stark reality of the situation was encapsulated in Atkinson's words: “That’s what we get. A 20-point game or really a 30-point game.”
Entering the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Cavaliers were filled with confidence after their first win. However, their hopes quickly deflated. Just 4:32 into the first quarter, a confrontation between Cavs reserve De’Andre Hunter and Pacers player Bennedict Mathurin highlighted the frustrations of the night. Unfortunately for Cleveland, this moment of aggression was the only fight they displayed throughout the game.
From the onset, the Cavaliers struggled, finding themselves down by double digits within the first seven minutes. At one point, they trailed by 44 points, with the game effectively decided by halftime. The first half saw the Cavaliers being outscored 80-39 while managing only eight successful shots. This dismal performance tied for the largest halftime deficit in NBA playoff history.
As the Pacers’ two-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton rallied the sellout crowd — which included WNBA star Caitlin Clark — Cavs star Donovan Mitchell slowly walked off the court, never to return. Following the dismal first half, Mitchell attempted to warm up for the second half but suffered a left ankle injury, forcing him to retreat to the locker room for the remainder of the game.
The Cavaliers never managed to close the gap, remaining 20 points behind throughout the second half as both teams began clearing their benches early in the fourth quarter. Atkinson reiterated the disparity in performance, noting, “They raised their game to another level and we didn’t match it.” Despite preparing mentally for this challenge, the Cavaliers were outperformed in every sense.
Mitchell, who had recently showcased back-to-back 40-point games, ended the night with only 12 points, shooting a disappointing 3 of 11 from the field and 1 of 5 from three-point range in just 20 minutes. Although he expressed optimism about being “good” for the next game, an MRI is scheduled for Monday to assess his injury further.
Meanwhile, Darius Garland led the Cavaliers with 21 points and six assists despite playing through a painful toe sprain. Evan Mobley, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, managed just 10 points, while Jarrett Allen had a near-invisible performance with only two points and two rebounds.
The Indiana Pacers showcased their depth, with three players scoring over 20 points. Pascal Siakam led the charge with 21 points, while both Myles Turner and Obi Toppin contributed 20 points each, resulting in Indiana’s starting frontcourt outscoring Cleveland’s 53-23. The energy in the arena escalated as chants of “We want Boston!” echoed, highlighting Indiana’s desire to advance further in the playoffs.
As the Cavaliers face the daunting challenge of keeping their postseason hopes alive, they must reflect on their recent performances. The recurring themes of being outplayed, out-toughed, and out-coached have become all too familiar for Cleveland. Darius Garland remains hopeful, stating, “This group has been together for a couple of years now. Been through a lot of adversity the last three years together with all of us together. This franchise has done it before. We’ve seen it done before.”
The Cleveland Cavaliers will host the Indiana Pacers for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Tuesday night. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. The team must rally together to avoid elimination and keep their championship aspirations alive.
