NBA: Donovan Mitchell rankings 43, Cavs keep away from 0-3 hollow vs Pacers

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) and guard Donovan Mitchell (45) rejoice all the way through the second one part of Game 3 within the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs in opposition to the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, Friday, May 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

INDIANAPOLIS — Donovan Mitchell had 43 issues and 9 rebounds, and the in the end full-strength Cleveland Cavaliers beat Indiana 126-104 on Friday night time to chop the Pacers’ result in 2-1 within the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The street staff has received all 3 video games within the sequence, and the Pacers may have every other likelihood to wreck that pattern Sunday in Game 4.

READ: NBA: Donovan Mitchell, depleted Cavs down 0-2 vs Pacers

Cleveland was once determined to keep away from falling right into a 3-0 hollow and used the whole thing in its arsenal to carry in this time — making 14 3-pointers, retaining a 56-37 rebounding edge, even depending on zone protection to decelerate the high-scoring Pacers.

And with NBA Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley, All-Star guard Darius Garland and key backup De’Andre Hunter all suited up after lacking Game 2, Mitchell were given the toughen he wanted.

Donovan Mitchell was once UNSTOPPABLE within the @cavs Game 3 street win!

🕷️ 43 issues
🕷️ 9 rebounds
🕷️ 5 assists
🕷️ 5 threes

Cleveland appears to tie the sequence Sunday at 8:00pm/et on TNT 🍿 pic.twitter.com/lNvsm2iVj9

— NBA (@NBA) May 10, 2025

Max Strus made 4 3-pointers and completed with 20 issues, seven rebounds and 7 assists. Three different Cleveland avid gamers additionally scored in double figures on an evening the Cavs led by way of as a lot 26, by no means trailed and controlled to offer protection to their overdue lead when the Pacers minimize the deficit to 11 early within the fourth.

Bennedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 23 issues. Pascal Siakam had 18 and Tyrese Haliburton completed with 4 issues and 5 assists in his first profession house loss in a postseason sport he’s gave the impression.

READ: NBA: Haliburton hits ultimate 2d 3, Pacers take 2-0 lead over Cavs

The maximum bodily of the 3 video games led to avid gamers mechanically sprawled at the ground. Hunter was a difficult shoulder after creating a basket early in the second one quarter, a collision that just about knocked him down, and Mitchell took an unpleasant spill into the front-row seats whilst being known as for an offensive foul.

Tempers additionally flared now and then with the Pacers drawing 5 technical fouls, one for a extend of sport.

On the court docket, even though, Cleveland managed lots of the sport after breaking a 36-36 tie with a 25-4 run that helped push the Cavs to a 66-45 halftime cushion.

Indiana minimize it to 80-65 halfway during the 3rd quarter and regarded able to tug off every other fourth-quarter rally when Siakam’s 3 with 8:24 to play made it 104-93. But Mitchell and Strus spoke back with back-to-back 3s to steer a game-sealing price.