Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell shared his thoughts after his team’s 121-112 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Sunday. Despite his 33-point performance, Mitchell acknowledged that the Cavaliers struggled offensively, particularly from beyond the arc.
“We missed a lot of good looks,” Mitchell said. “I was 1-for-11 from three, and some of those were wide open. When shots aren’t falling, it affects everything, especially against a team like this that excels in transition.”
Mitchell was quick to credit the Pacers for their performance. “They made a bunch of shots, they got out in transition. We didn’t make shots, but you’ve got to give them credit. They were physical and came in and handled business,” he added. “It’s not easy to go 16-0, but we’ll be fine. We’ll be better for it.”
The Cavaliers faced defensive challenges as well, with Indiana capitalizing on their fast pace and offensive efficiency. The Pacers shot 52.8% from three-point range and 53.0% overall. Despite this, Mitchell emphasized the importance of responding mentally to adversity in the playoffs.
“It’s always going to be an uphill battle in the playoffs. They hit first, and we’ve got to respond,” Mitchell said. “It’s just one game. We’ll watch the film and make adjustments for Game 2.”
Cleveland’s offense also struggled with the absence of Darius Garland, who has missed the first three games of the playoffs due to injury. Evan Mobley contributed 20 points and 10 rebounds, but the Cavaliers’ collective shooting performance was not enough to overcome Indiana’s balanced attack.
Defensively, Mitchell felt the Cavaliers were outpaced by the Pacers’ ball movement and speed. “They do a good job of moving the ball and using everyone,” Mitchell noted. “We’ve got to guard better and focus on contesting their shots.”
Looking ahead to Game 2, Mitchell remains optimistic. “We’ll be better,” he said. “We’ve found some things that worked, and now we just have to execute. It’s one game, and we’ll be ready to respond.”
With Cleveland now facing a series deficit, Mitchell and the Cavaliers know that Game 2 will be a crucial opportunity to regroup and regain momentum.
