After a commanding 126–104 victory in Game 3, the Cleveland Cavaliers have narrowed the Indiana Pacers’ series lead to 2–1 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Donovan Mitchell led the charge with 43 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, marking his second consecutive 40+ point game—a feat previously achieved only by LeBron James in franchise history .
The Cavaliers’ resurgence was bolstered by the return of key players. Evan Mobley contributed 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Darius Garland added 10 points despite limited minutes due to foul trouble . Max Strus also delivered a standout performance with 20 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, becoming the first Cavalier since LeBron James to record such a stat line while shooting over 65% from the field in a playoff game .
LeBron James, observing the series closely, has expressed confidence in the Cavaliers’ ability to overcome the early deficit and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. His optimism is shared by analysts who, prior to Game 3, predicted the Cavaliers would win the series in six games .
Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday in Indianapolis, where the Cavaliers will aim to even the series. With momentum on their side and key players returning to form, Cleveland appears poised to continue their playoff push.
