The Cleveland Cavaliers suffered a tough 129-109 defeat to the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 on Sunday night, putting them on the brink of elimination. To make matters worse, star guard Donovan Mitchell exited the game early due to an ankle injury. Despite the blowout loss and his absence in the second half, Mitchell offered a dose of optimism for Cavs fans.
Before his early exit, Mitchell played 20 minutes and scored 12 points. However, he struggled from the floor, shooting just 3-of-11, including 1-of-5 from three-point range. He was ruled out for the remainder of the game with a left ankle injury, and the Cavaliers couldn’t mount a comeback without him, falling behind 3-1 in the series.
Still, Mitchell reassured fans that he expects to play in Game 5. “I will be good for Tuesday. You know me. I will see you Tuesday,” he told cleveland.com and another outlet, flashing a wry smile as he departed Gainbridge Fieldhouse with his father.
Donovan Mitchell And Cavaliers Face Must-Win Game After Turnover-Plagued Loss
Game 4 was a crucial turning point in the series, and the Cavs’ performance left much to be desired. Despite entering the playoffs with the franchise’s best regular season record outside of the LeBron James era — 64 wins and the top seed — Cleveland now finds itself one loss away from elimination.
Indiana capitalized on Cleveland’s sloppy ball-handling, forcing 22 turnovers that led to several scoring runs. The Cavaliers simply couldn’t find an answer defensively, and the Pacers took full advantage to seal the lopsided win.
Donovan Mitchell in the postseason
— 𝓜𝓪𝓽𝓽 ✈️ (@mldiffley) May 10, 2025
• Top 5 all-time in Playoff PPG
• 3rd most 50+ point playoff games ever
• Most 45+ point playoff games in the last 5 years
• Only player with back to back 40+ point games this postseason
One of the greatest playoff risers in NBA history pic.twitter.com/141RLMz5az
While Mitchell was one of six Cleveland players to score in double figures, the team’s efforts weren’t enough. Darius Garland led the team with 21 points, six assists, one rebound, and one steal. He shot 6-of-11 from the field, 1-of-5 from deep, and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line. Isaac Okoro followed with 13 points and two rebounds, Max Strus chipped in 11 points and six boards, and Jaylon Tyson added 11 points along with three assists.
Now facing a must-win situation, the Cavaliers will attempt to keep their season alive when they return home for Game 5. That matchup is set for May 13 at 7 p.m. ET, and with Mitchell’s promise to be ready, the team will hope to rally and extend the series.
Also Read: Is Dennis Rodman Still Alive? NBA Legend Debunks Death Rumors after April Fools Hoax Goes Viral
