The Cleveland Cavaliers faced disappointment as they exited the playoffs after losing to the Indiana Pacers. Despite leading by 19 points in the second quarter, the Cavaliers were defeated 114-105 in Game 5. Donovan Mitchell, who scored a game-high 35 points and grabbed nine rebounds, expressed his dismay at letting the city down.
Throughout the series, Mitchell averaged 34.2 points per game, showcasing his talent even while dealing with a left ankle injury from Game 4. His playoff career average of 28.3 points ranks seventh in NBA history, yet he has never advanced past the second round. The Cavaliers had started their season strong with 15 consecutive wins and ended with 64 victories, marking their second-highest regular-season win total.
Despite their impressive regular season, Cleveland became only the fourth team in NBA history to win 64 games but fail to reach the second round. The loss was particularly frustrating for Mitchell, who cherished playing in Cleveland’s arena and felt they let down their passionate fans by not winning any home games during the series.
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Indiana’s victory over Cleveland means they will face either the Boston Celtics or New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals. Despite this setback, Mitchell remains optimistic about his team’s future potential. He believes in his teammates’ abilities and is determined to use this experience as motivation for improvement.
“We’ve had a lot of positives,” Mitchell stated about his team’s performance. “But we didn’t capitalise.” He acknowledged that winning requires everything to align perfectly and emphasised that they have a window of opportunity with their current roster.
Mitchell expressed unwavering support for his teammates, stating, “I’ll go to bat for every guy in that locker room.” He stressed the importance of hard work and preparation in areas like training and nutrition to bounce back stronger next season.
The Cavaliers’ inability to maintain their lead at home was a significant disappointment for both players and fans alike. However, Mitchell is confident that they will return stronger next season despite being written off by critics.
“We let the city down,” Mitchell admitted candidly. “But we’ll be back.” His determination reflects a commitment to improving and proving doubters wrong in future seasons.