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7 hours ago
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After winning 64 games during the regular season, the Cleveland Cavaliers looked like a lock to, at the very least, reach the Eastern Conference Finals. But after losing the first two games of their second-round series at home to the Indiana Pacers, they seemed to be teetering on the brink of a total disaster.
They headed to Indianapolis for Game 3 on Friday badly needing a win, and that's exactly what they got. Donovan Mitchell led the way with 43 points, and the Cavs claimed a 126-104 victory to get on the board in this series.
Most felt Game 3 was a must-win game for Cleveland, and Mitchell agreed when asked about it following the victory.
"1,000%," he said.
Fans reacted on X.
"Of course it's a must win for Cavs," one fan wrote.
"Love his confidence," wrote another fan. "What a massive night"
"he’s ready to GO OFF 💥🔥" a third fan wrote.
"Idiotic question no [expletive] its a must win," a fourth fan wrote.
"Mitchell doing his best in game 3 🫡," a fifth fan wrote.
"Bonfire 🔥," another fan wrote.
Mitchell's 43 points came on the heels of a 48-point performance from him in Game 2. Unfortunately, the Cavs were on the wrong side of a 120-119 loss in that contest.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell
© Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
They led 119-112 with just under a minute left, only to collapse and allow Tyrese Haliburton to make the first of two free throws, get his own rebound after missing the second and hit the game-winning 3-pointer just before time expired.
Cleveland was without the services of All-Star big man Evan Mobley in Game 2 and All-Star point guard Darius Garland in both of the first two games. But both played on Friday, and Mobley's 18 points, 13 rebounds, three steals and three blocks were a major factor in the team's Game 3 win.
Another victory by Cleveland in Game 4 will essentially make this a brand-new best-of-three series, but a loss would put it one step away from death. It may take a couple more volcanic eruptions from Mitchell to allow the team to advance to the next round.
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