After losing the first two games at home, the Cleveland Cavaliers are on the board as they defeated the Pacers in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinals 126-104 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday night.
The Pacers still lead the series 2-1, and Game 4 is Sunday night in Indiana.
Cleveland got some help as they got back Darius Garland, who missed the last four playoff games with a toe injury. Evan Mobley(ankle) and De’Andre Hunter(thumb), who missed Game 2, and they all contributed, especially Mobley. The Defensive Player of the Year had 18 points, 13 rebounds, three steals, and three blocks.
However, All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell had another remarkable performance. After scoring 48 points in Game 2, Mitchell had 43 points(14/29 FG), nine rebounds, and five assists in Game 3.
The Cavs led by as many as 24 points in the third quarter and took a 97-79 lead into the fourth quarter. However, Indiana cut the lead to 11 with 7:49 left in the fourth, but Mitchell and Max Strus would hit back-to-back threes, and the Cavs went on a 16-1 run. Cleveland would take a 26-point lead, their largest lead of the game.
All five Cavs’ starters scored in double figures. Strus added 20 points, and Jarrett Allen was big-time with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks, and Garland chipped in with 10.
For Indiana, Bennedict Mathurin led the way with 23 points.
Bottom Line:
The Cavs had to get Game 3 if they had any hopes of winning this series. However, Game 4 is also a must-win for Cleveland. No team in NBA history has come back from a 3-0 deficit, but not many have come back from a 3-1 deficit, so they have to win Game 4.
Mobley looked solid, Hunter looked decent, but Garland is still a concern. He was limping around near the end of Game 3. If Cleveland gets by Indiana, you wonder how much Garland will have for the rest of the playoffs, but for now, the Cavs must focus on Game 4.
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