Full-Strength Cavaliers Overwhelm Pacers in Game 3, Narrow Series Deficit to 2-1

Donovan Mitchell powered the Cleveland Cavaliers with a stunning 43-point, nine-rebound performance, leading them to a decisive 126-104 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night. With this win, the Cavs trimmed the Pacers’ edge to 2-1 in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Every contest in this series has been claimed by the road team, and the Pacers will aim to upset this pattern in Game 4 on Sunday. This game was a must-win for the Cavaliers, who came out swinging to avoid a daunting 3-0 series deficit.

With a full squad back in action — including Evan Mobley, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, All-Star guard Darius Garland, and key reserve De’Andre Hunter — the Cavaliers were firing on all cylinders. They drained 14 three-pointers, dominated the boards with a 56-37 advantage, and even employed a zone defense to stymie the Pacers’ high-powered offense.

Max Strus contributed significantly, scoring 20 points, alongside seven rebounds and seven assists, making four shots from beyond the arc. Three other Cavaliers players also hit double figures, helping Cleveland build a commanding 26-point lead at one stage, a margin that Indiana could not overcome despite trimming it to 11 points early in the fourth quarter.

The Pacers were led by Bennedict Mathurin’s 23 points, with Pascal Siakam adding 18. Tyrese Haliburton, playing in his first postseason home loss, ended with four points and five assists.

This intensely physical game frequently saw players sprawled across the floor. De’Andre Hunter was hit with a hard shoulder in the second quarter, and Mitchell had a rough tumble into the front-row seats during a questionable offensive foul call. The game’s physicality overflowed at times, with Indiana collecting five technical fouls, including one for a delay of game.

On the hardwood, Cleveland took charge after breaking a 36-36 deadlock with a vigorous 25-4 surge, establishing a robust 66-45 lead by halftime. Despite Indiana’s efforts to mount a comeback, cutting the margin to 80-65 in the third, Mitchell and Strus extinguished any hopes of a rally with consecutive three-pointers, sealing the Cavaliers’ comprehensive win.

Game 4 awaits, with the Pacers looking to rebound and the Cavaliers seeking to level the series.