In a surprising turn of events, the Pacers are currently ahead of the Cavaliers 2-0, with star player Donovan Mitchell admitting he bears part of the responsibility.
With Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, and De’Andre Hunter sidelined on Tuesday, the pressure squarely rested on Mitchell’s shoulders. He rose to the occasion, posting 48 points on 15-of-30 shooting, along with nine assists, five rebounds, and four steals.
The physical play took its toll, as he netted 21 trips to the free-throw line.
However, it’s hard to overlook Mitchell’s influence in Cleveland’s painful downfall.
The Cavaliers let a seven-point lead slip away in the final minute, resulting in a narrow 120-119 loss.
Mitchell appeared fatigued towards the end, contributing to the team’s quick decline.
In the last three minutes alone, he faced two blocked shots, missed two free throws, committed a critical offensive foul, and was substituted for defense.
A particularly challenging moment came during a Pascal Siakam free throw when Aaron Nesmith maneuvered around Mitchell for the rebound and executed a dunk, visibly rattling him — all while officials missed a lane violation.
After the game, Mitchell took accountability for the closing moments.
“I should have grabbed the ball,” he remarked. “I should’ve grabbed it. I was right there, so … that’s on me.”
Mitchell was also in the fray during the frantic ending when Haliburton was fouled, made one of his free throws, retrieved his own miss, and subsequently scored the game-winning shot. He missed a critical rebound that could have secured the win.
The Cavaliers now have a couple of days to regroup, welcome back some players, and give Mitchell a chance to recuperate.
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