Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson shared his thoughts after his team’s heartbreaking 120-119 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Atkinson expressed pride in his team’s effort but acknowledged areas for improvement.
“We competed really well,” Atkinson said, commending his players’ fight throughout the game. “We played them for most of the game, but we ran out of gas. We couldn’t get separation. They upped their physicality, grabbing and holding, and we couldn’t move. That was tough.”
Atkinson took responsibility for shortening his rotation but emphasized that the team stuck to their identity. “That’s my sole regret,” he noted. “I loved how we competed. We just need to get guys back and ready for Game 3.”
The Cavaliers appeared in control late, leading 119-112 with just over a minute remaining. However, the Pacers capitalized on key mistakes, including turnovers and missed box outs, to steal the win. When asked about the critical box out situation at the end of the game, Atkinson said, “I don’t know if we missed it. I’ll have to look at the tape, but if they missed that call, it’s a big one.”
The Cavaliers also faced frustrations with the officiating, notably a critical offensive foul called on Donovan Mitchell in the final minutes. “It’s the playoffs,” Atkinson responded, acknowledging the physical nature of the game. “The refs did a good job. We just didn’t have the force to fight through it.”
Atkinson also discussed Ty Jerome’s performance, especially as the player dealt with cramping. Despite an off shooting night, Atkinson stuck with him for his ball-handling ability. “Ty’s been great all year,” Atkinson said. “He’ll bounce back. He’s had an off night, but we needed him out there.”
Looking ahead to Game 3, Atkinson remains focused and optimistic. “We’re positive in the locker room,” he said. “We understand what’s at stake. Game 3 is what matters now, and we’re going to recover and come back ready.”
The Cavaliers face a daunting task as they head to Indianapolis for Game 3, down 2-0 in the series. However, Atkinson’s message is clear: focus on the next game and stay hopeful.
