The Cleveland Cavaliers are sitting in a 0-2 hole against the Indiana Pacers and have to win Game 3 to stay in this series. That will mean brilliance from Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell, who is undoubtedly their best player.
Early in the first half, Spida was already showing his greatness. Mitchell put Tyrese Haliburton in a spin cycle before converting a tough, acrobatic bucket over Myles Turner.
Athleticism at its finest:
That’s absolutely fantastic stuff from Mitchell. He’s one of the most athletic players in the Association, and he showed it with that play. The Cavs have struggled in this series, and no one predicted them to be down 2-0, but that’s the unfortunate reality right now.
What makes it even more difficult is that Cleveland is on the road for Games 3 and 4. They will need to find their best without the support of their home fans. But, it does help that Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and De’Andre Hunter are all back in the lineup.
The early returns are solid. The Cavs are up by double digits with just minutes left in the second quarter. Mitchell has already scored 13 points in 14 minutes of action, and Cleveland will need him to keep balling out.
This series is by no means over if the Cavs can get on the board on Friday evening. Kenny Atkinson’s squad was the top seed in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, and with the roster now at full strength, they’re very much still alive.
Keeping their foot on the gas pedal will be key. The Cavs blew a big lead in the fourth quarter of Game 2, and it resulted in a Haliburton game-winner. Mitchell can set the tone on offense, but Cleveland must lock down defensively and limit Indiana’s three-point shooting in particular. They’re draining over 45% of their attempt from deep in the series.
