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Donovan Mitchell could have missed some essential free throws in the direction of the tip of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ season-ending 114-105 Sport 5 loss to the Indiana Pacers, however he confirmed up with a steely dedication and the resolve that they weren’t about to be despatched packing simply but. He battled by an ankle harm, risked additional hurt by attacking the rim time and again, however in the long run, it wasn’t sufficient.

Mitchell, who overcame an 8-25 taking pictures night time en path to scoring 35 factors in a shedding effort, was somber in his postgame presser and delivered the chilly arduous actuality that has now come to outline what was as soon as a dream season for him and the Cavs.

“We took a step in the correct course however we did not win a championship. And we did not full the tip aim. No ethical victories right here. We simply did not get the job accomplished. There’s actually nothing else to be mentioned,” Mitchell mentioned in his postgame presser, through NBA TV on X (previously Twitter).

As unhappy as this flip of occasions could also be, that is the sobering actuality that the Cavs have to just accept. They will level to numerous components that contributed to their undoing: Darius Garland wasn’t one hundred pc, Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter every missed a recreation, and even Mitchell was banged-up by the tip of the collection.

However championship groups work out a method to overcome adversity, and the Cavs merely weren’t capable of execute after they wanted to. They may ceaselessly rue their heartbreaking Sport 2 defeat and their horrific efficiency in Sport 4 the place they could as effectively not have proven up. And they’ll have a protracted offseason to mirror upon their shortcomings as they exit the playoffs within the second spherical in simply 5 video games for the second consecutive 12 months.

Donovan Mitchell did his greatest regardless of Cavs’ playoff exit

Donovan Mitchell did no matter he might to elevate the Cavs of their second-round matchup in opposition to the Pacers. However in the long run, it was not sufficient. Even with a horrible Sport 4 efficiency by which he completed with simply 12 factors after exiting early on account of an ankle harm, Mitchell averaged 34.2 factors within the collection regardless of dealing with immense defensive consideration from Indiana.

Even in Sport 5, everybody can see how arduous Mitchell was enjoying; he was nonetheless attacking the rim with reckless abandon, unafraid to re-aggravate his ankle harm, and he was the Cavs’ most dependable supply of offense regardless that he missed 17 of his 25 makes an attempt from the sector. Mitchell is the final particular person any cheap Cavs fan would blame for his or her collection loss vs. the Pacers.