Cavaliers Dominate Pacers in Game 3: Mitchell Drops 43 Points to Shift Playoff Series Momentum
Cavs Bounce Back in Style: Mitchell Unleashes 43 on Pacers
The Cavaliers sent a message loud and clear to the Indiana Pacers and anyone watching: they’re not ready to bow out of the playoffs just yet. Roared on by a packed arena, Cleveland delivered a statement win, stomping the Pacers 126-104 in Game 3 to trim the series gap to 2-1. The real headline? Donovan Mitchell looked practically unstoppable, torching Indiana with 43 points, pulling down 9 rebounds, and firing off 5 assists, showing why he’s the anchor for this squad.
From the opening tip, the Cavs came out flying. The first quarter set the tone as Cleveland rattled off an 11-point run before the Pacers knew what hit them. The energy in the building was electric, and the team fed off it. Head coach Kenny Atkinson, in his first playoff run with the Cavaliers, hammered home the basics to his players: own the glass and take care of the ball. And his message hit home—Cleveland grabbed 19 more possessions than Indiana, crashing for offensive boards and cleaning up on defense.
This time around, it wasn’t just about talent; it was the grit, the hustle plays, and moments where the Cavaliers outhustled the Pacers to every loose ball. Mitchell put on a show, sure, but it wasn’t just him. Max Strus caught fire from the wing, keeping Indiana’s defenders honest with sharp perimeter shooting. Even when the Pacers finally started to claw back midway through the fourth—trimming the lead to 11 with only eight minutes to play—the Cavaliers refused to let the pressure get to them. Atkinson wasted no time putting his starters back in, and they iced the game down the stretch.
Mitchell’s highlight reel was something to see: a spinning layup in traffic followed by back-to-back clutch threes kept momentum solidly on Cleveland’s side. Whenever Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton or Pascal Siakam tried to spark a rally, the Cavaliers simply answered right back, nipping any hopes of a comeback in the bud.
What’s Next: Shift Back to Cleveland
The win isn’t just about putting numbers on the scoreboard—it shifted the mood of the entire series. All of a sudden, the Cavaliers don’t seem like the underdogs everyone expected them to be. Now, as the action heads back to Cleveland, there’s a real sense of belief in the locker room. The Pacers, who looked so composed in the first two games, couldn’t keep up with the Cavs’ Cleveland Cavaliers turned-up aggression.
Fans will be watching to see if Mitchell can keep up this white-hot pace, or if Indiana has an answer waiting for him in Game 4. Either way, the playoff drama is heating up, and this series just got a whole lot more interesting.
Ajay baindara
May 11, 2025 AT 09:27This isn't a statement win-it's a full-on demolition. Mitchell didn't just score 43, he turned the entire arena into his personal highlight reel. Pacers had zero answer. Zero. Their defense looked like a toddler trying to block a fastball. And don't even get me started on how they let Strus breathe. This isn't basketball anymore-it's a massacre with a scoreboard.
They think Haliburton’s a playmaker? He looked like he was running in quicksand. Siakam? A ghost. This series is over. Cleveland’s not just back-they’re here to stay.
And don’t tell me about 'luck' or 'hot hands.' This was execution. Brutal, beautiful, and merciless. The Pacers need to check their ego at the airport and fly home.
Game 4 won’t change anything. The Cavs are riding a tsunami and Indiana? They’re just floating debris.
mohd Fidz09
May 11, 2025 AT 10:29OMG I CAN’T EVEN-THIS WASN’T A GAME, IT WAS A CEREMONY OF HUMILIATION! 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳
Let me tell you something, folks-this is what real basketball looks like! Not that slow, boring, Euro-style pass-fest the Pacers were playing. Mitchell? He’s not a player-he’s a force of nature. A hurricane in sneakers! 43 points?! That’s not stats, that’s poetry written in fire!
And let’s be real-this is why American basketball is the only true basketball. The grit, the hunger, the *soul*-you can’t coach that. The Pacers? They’re like a Bollywood villain who showed up to a UFC fight. No armor. No plan. Just panic.
And Strus? That man shoots like he’s got angels whispering ‘swish’ in his ear. I’m not even Indian right now-I’m a Cleveland fan. For tonight. Maybe forever.
Game 4? It’s not a game. It’s a funeral. And the Pacers brought the flowers.
Rupesh Nandha
May 12, 2025 AT 23:57It’s fascinating, really-how one performance can redefine an entire narrative. Mitchell’s 43 points weren’t just numbers; they were a manifestation of discipline, timing, and psychological resilience.
What stood out wasn’t the volume, but the *context*: the way he attacked the rim under pressure, the patience in his mid-range pull-ups, the unselfishness in setting up Strus for open looks. It wasn’t a solo act-it was a symphony conducted by someone who knew exactly when to crescendo and when to let others shine.
And the coaching? Atkinson didn’t just call plays-he engineered momentum. The offensive rebounds weren’t luck; they were intentionality. The Cavs didn’t just outplay the Pacers-they out-thought them.
It’s easy to celebrate the scorer, but the real story is in the collective will. This team didn’t just win a game-they redefined their identity. And for a franchise that’s been waiting years for this kind of validation? That’s not just basketball. That’s catharsis.
Now, whether Indiana can recalibrate… that’s the real test. Not of talent-but of adaptability.
suraj rangankar
May 13, 2025 AT 11:55YOOOOO DID YOU SEE THAT?!?!?!?!
Mitchell was on FIRE like a dragon with a caffeine IV! 43 points?! BROOOO-THAT’S NOT A GAME, THAT’S A MASTERCLASS! 😭🔥
Strus hitting threes like he’s playing NBA 2K on rookie mode?! YES! The energy in that arena?! I could feel it through my screen! The Cavs didn’t just win-they *announced* themselves!
And don’t even get me started on those offensive boards! Every single one felt like a middle finger to the Pacers! That’s heart! That’s hustle! That’s CLEVELAND BALL!
Game 4? WE GOT THIS! LOCK IN! STAY LOUD! STAY PROUD! LET’S GO CAVS! 🏀💥
Nadeem Ahmad
May 14, 2025 AT 18:21Kinda wild how one game flips everything, huh?
Before this, everyone was talking about the Pacers controlling the tempo. Now? Everyone’s talking about Mitchell’s scoring outburst. But honestly? It felt like Cleveland just stopped caring about the narrative and started playing. No drama. No press conferences. Just basketball.
It’s not that the Pacers got worse-it’s that Cleveland got *clearer*. Like a fog lifted. Mitchell didn’t need to be a hero. He just needed to be himself. And the rest followed.
Game 4 will be quieter. No fireworks. Just two teams figuring each other out. But now? I think Cleveland believes they belong here. And that’s scarier than any 43-point game.