We can start by making something very clear. The Cleveland Cavaliers wouldn’t have had much of a chance in Game 2 without Donovan Mitchell.
With key contributors Evan Mobley, Darius Garland and De’Andre Hunter all out Tuesday, it was left to Mitchell to pick up much of the slack. He did so capably, dropping 48 points on 15-of-30 shooting with nine assists, five rebounds, four steals and five turnovers in 36 minutes. He absorbed enough punishment to reach the free-throw line for 21 attempts.
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He also delivered the Cavaliers’ highlight of the playoffs so far:
With all of that said, it also can’t be ignored how much of a role Mitchell had in Cleveland’s epic collapse, as the team blew a seven-point lead with a minute left to lose 120-119 and fall behind 2-0 in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Mitchell was clearly gassed going into the final stretch, when everything started to go wrong for the Cavaliers. In the last three minutes, he had two shots blocked, missed two free throws, committed a costly offensive foul and was taken out for a Pacers offensive possession. That offensive foul could have easily turned into a flagrant as well.
That stretch also included Aaron Nesmith getting a step on Mitchell during a Pascal Siakam free throw — with the officials showing their usual laissez-faire attitude toward lane violations — and dunking hard enough to leave Mitchell shaken.
Mitchell was also on the floor for the Cavaliers’ disastrous final possession, on which Tyrese Haliburton got fouled, split the two free throws, rebounded the miss and made a game-winning 3-pointer.
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Even on that play, Mitchell missed out on a rebound that would have effectively iced the game.
Asked about the final play during post-game availability, Mitchell didn’t shy away from his responsibilty.
“I should have grabbed the ball,” Mitchell told reporters. “I should’ve grabbed it. I was right there, so … that’s on me.”
And that’s how you walk out of a 48-point playoff performance with a bitter taste in your mouth. No one ever said the NBA playoffs were fair.
The Cavaliers now have two days off to help get their injured players healthy and for Mitchell to get some rest.
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“I’m banged up, but we all are,” Mitchell told reporters. “It is what it is.”
Game 3 is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET Friday in Indianapolis.
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