Turns out, the Cleveland Cavaliers, once again, failed to measure the Indiana Pacers. Going down for the second time in two days, Kenny Atkinson’s boys are in trouble. That one ‘overrated’ Tyrese Haliburton emerged, and all that the 1st seed of the East could do was stare. And despite Donovan Mitchell scoring 48 points while battling a calf strain, Darius Garland’s absence still loomed large. However, someone had to own the flaws in their 119-120 loss on Tuesday, and it was Spida who turned up.
The 28-year-old point guard ignited raw energy at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Tuesday. However, when the TNT broadcasters mentioned that he was doing everything with s calf strain, the fans were left gasping. While most would sit, Mitchell went full throttle, dropping 48 points like the pain didn’t exist. Appearing before the media after the 0-2 record, Mitchell addressed the matter.
“How did you come out of it physically, and were you pushing through a calf strain tonight?” the reporter asked him. “Banged up. But we all are. That’s what it is,” Donovan Mitchell said without a moment’s hesitation. Now, talking about the loss and how difficult it might get, he said, “I mean, it’s tough. But that’s what the playoffs are. Now we have two days to get ready for Friday.”
Heading into Game 3, the Cavs need to make up for their 0-2 deficit. How are they going to prepare themselves mentally to pass their second loss and move forward? “You ain’t got no choice. I mean, we could sit here and dwell on this and be home in about four or five days,” Mitchell clarified. “Or, we can move on and take some things that we did well and go from there.” Cleveland enters Game 3 in a stunning 0-2 hole, and not because it got outclassed, but because it collapsed. In Game 1, the Cavs led 102-101 with 6:22 left, then got buried under a 20-11 run. Game 2? Even worse. They coughed up a 14-point fourth-quarter lead. Both games told the same tale—tight score, shaky offense, and no answers when it mattered most.
Apr 20, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) walks on the court in the first quarter against the Miami Heat at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
The All-Star guard further added, “I have no doubt that everybody in that locker room is ready for Friday. It sucks. It stings. But we’ve got to go out there and take care of business. Otherwise, that’s it. But I believe in everybody in the locker room. We believe in each other. We’ll figure it out.” Well, in a game that felt conquerable, the Cleveland Cavaliers fumbled. Luckily, their field goal percentage (43.3%) was slightly better than the last game’s.
Now, heading into Friday’s game, Donovan Mitchell’s injury status will be an important one to monitor. The Cavs have already lost Darius Garland, and wouldn’t want to lose anyone else, especially Mitchell. Now, coming to DG, there seems to be some suppressed anger among the fans as his absence screams in Cleveland’s consecutive losses.
Upset Cavs Nation fumes in Darius Garland’s absence amidst Donovan Mitchell’s injury
When the game hits crunch time, Darius Garland flourishes. In 2024–25, he poured in 5.9 points per fourth quarter, turning the final 12 minutes into his stage. He shot a red-hot .504 from the field, .387 from deep, and a silky .911 from the line. Even more impressive? That fourth quarter was the closer in 80 of Cleveland’s 82 games. However, this key constant is still recovering from his sprained big toe. He hasn’t played since Game 2 of Cleveland’s first-round series against the Miami Heat, and a timeline for his recovery remains unclear.
Now, Brian Windhorst informed on the Hoop Collective podcast that there is a section of fans who aren’t happy. “There is a segment of the Cavs fan base who is questioning whether or not Darius Garland could play. This injury is obviously severe. He missed a couple of games at the end of the regular season. He has now missed four playoff games. They obviously terribly needed him tonight, and he couldn’t play. This is not a guy who’s known for being soft,” Windy said.
Mar 16, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) stands on the court in the first quarter against the Orlando Magic at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Without Garland, the Cavs have made chaos their shot selection—and it shows. They’re shooting just 30.2% from the field and a brutal 20.0% from deep in fourth quarters against Indiana. At the heart of this mess? Donovan Mitchell, carrying the team like it’s his job and then some. In just two games, he’s hoisted 60 shots, earned 30 trips to the line, and still found time to dish out 13 assists.
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