Cavaliers Spark Life in Playoff Series with Game 3 Rout, Mitchell Drops 43 Against Pacers

Donovan Mitchell Explodes Again as Cavaliers Pull Off Must-Win Victory

Donovan Mitchell just keeps raising the stakes. With the Cavaliers on the ropes, he delivered a 43-point masterclass, shredding the Pacers and keeping alive Cleveland’s NBA playoff hopes. Packed with energy and focus from tipoff, the Cavs ran away with a 126-104 victory in front of a buzzing home crowd on May 9, 2025. Suddenly, that 2-0 series hole doesn’t look quite so deep.

The last time the Cavaliers looked this sharp was months ago, but for once, their entire roster was available at tip-off. Cleveland’s usual size advantage meant both Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen could get into the mix, but as the game got rolling, it was all about Mitchell’s relentless attack. He’s now gone for at least 40 points in back-to-back games, piling pressure on Indiana’s defense from every angle. Whenever Indiana tried to wall off the paint, Mitchell drained perimeter shots; when they drifted outside, he slashed straight to the rim.

Cleveland didn’t rely on Mitchell alone, though. Darius Garland chipped in with steady playmaking, and supporting players like Max Strus and Isaac Okoro hit timely shots to keep Indiana second-guessing. Their offensive rhythm looked much smoother—possessions zipped around, creating open looks. Even so, fans couldn’t help but second-guess. The online chatter ramped up over Mitchell’s shot selection, with plenty arguing he’s gunning too many threes instead of feeding Mobley and Allen down low, especially when Cleveland’s bigs have a clear advantage over Indiana’s lighter frontcourt.

Pacers Falter in Key Moments and Look for Answers Before Game 4

Indiana looked like a different team from those first two games. The second quarter was nothing short of a train wreck, producing only 13 measly points as Cleveland blitzed them in transition and half-court sets. T.J. McConnell, usually the heartbeat of Indiana’s bench, struggled to find any rhythm against Cleveland’s swarming defense. Myles Turner, tasked with anchoring the paint, repeatedly found himself out of position against the Cavaliers’ Cleveland Cavaliers attacking wave. Slow rotations, missed box-outs, and a lack of communication doomed the Pacers, especially when Mitchell started to heat up after halftime.

Cleveland’s win narrows the series gap to 2-1, setting up a Game 4 that suddenly feels like it could turn the momentum entirely. The third quarter saw big moments—a spinning layup from Mitchell here, a backbreaking corner three there—that kept Indiana at arm’s length. Every time the Pacers made a run, the Cavs had an answer, either through assertive drives or sharp ball movement. Indiana now faces big questions: can they adjust defensively, especially on the perimeter and in rotations, and will their own big men stand up to the Cavs’ imposing interior presence?

The intrigue heading into Game 4 is as high as ever. Cleveland has finally shown the version of themselves fans have been waiting for, with Mitchell leading the way but plenty of help from role players who know a thing or two about rising to the moment.