Cavaliers Beat Pacers 126-104, Donovan Mitchell Dominates/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Donovan Mitchell scored 43 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Indiana Pacers 126-104, trimming their playoff series deficit to 2-1. The Cavs rebounded from earlier collapses with a dominant performance, aided by returning injured players and a zone defense. Mitchell sealed the win with clutch buckets and key assists in the fourth quarter.
Cavaliers vs. Pacers Game 3 Quick Looks
- Donovan Mitchell scores 43, adds 9 rebounds
- Cavs dominate Pacers to win 126-104 in Game 3
- Series now 2-1, road team has won each game
- Cavs used a 25-4 second-quarter run to pull away
- Evan Mobley, De’Andre Hunter, Darius Garland return from injury
- Max Strus adds 20 points, 4 threes, 7 assists
- Cleveland wins rebounding battle 56-37
- Tyrese Haliburton scores only 4 in home playoff loss
- Pacers commit 5 technical fouls in physical contest
- Mitchell, Strus close strong after Indiana’s late push
Deep Look
Donovan Mitchell’s 43-Point Night Revives Cavaliers in Game 3 Rout of Pacers
Donovan Mitchell made sure the Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t collapse again.
After dropping leads in previous games, Mitchell put the team on his back, scoring 43 points and leading the Cavs to a 126-104 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series Friday night in Indianapolis.
With the series now at 2-1 in favor of the Pacers, all three games have been won by the road team. But this one felt different — a determined Cleveland squad leaned on returning players, tactical adjustments, and pure firepower to avoid a 3-0 series deficit.
“I couldn’t let it happen again,” said Mitchell, who also tallied 9 rebounds. “We got stops, made plays… but for me, just trying to be the aggressor.”
Mitchell, Strus Seal the Deal in the Fourth
After Indiana cut the lead to 104-93 in the final quarter, Mitchell responded with a 13-foot fadeaway and a dagger pull-up three. Then he found Max Strus for another 3-pointer, quelling the Pacers’ momentum and silencing the home crowd.
“That first one was selfish — but he needed it,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said. “That was all feel, and it was the right call.”
A Healthier Cavaliers Lineup Makes a Difference
The Cavaliers looked much more like their regular-season selves, bolstered by the return of Evan Mobley, De’Andre Hunter, and Darius Garland. The trio had missed Game 2 with injuries but made their presence known in Game 3.
The Cavs hit 14 3-pointers, dominated the glass with a 56-37 rebounding edge, and even employed zone defense to disrupt Indiana’s offensive rhythm.
Frustrated Pacers Falter Early and Lose Composure
Indiana never led and couldn’t recover from a second-quarter stretch where Cleveland went on a 25-4 run to break a 36-36 tie and take a commanding 66-45 halftime lead.
“This was a very poor effort,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “Ty had a rough game. I have to do more to get him in better positions.”
Tyrese Haliburton was held to just 4 points and 5 assists, marking his first career home playoff loss in a game he played. Bennedict Mathurin led Indiana with 23 points, and Pascal Siakam added 18, but it wasn’t enough.
Physical Game Gets Chippy
The contest turned into the most physical of the series, with both teams taking hard hits and several players hitting the deck. Indiana picked up five technical fouls, further indicating their frustration as Cleveland controlled the tempo.
Mitchell took a nasty spill into the courtside seats, while Hunter absorbed a shoulder blow that nearly sent him to the floor.
“It looked like a war zone at times,” a fan tweeted from courtside.
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