Summary:
- Indiana Pacers crushed the Cleveland Cavaliers 129-109 to take a 3-1 series lead on Sunday.
- Donovan Mitchell left at halftime with an ankle injury and is scheduled for an MRI..
- Pacers tied an NBA playoff record with a 41-point halftime lead, fueled by 25 assists..
The Cleveland Cavaliers were already struggling through a brutal first half when the worst-case scenario unfolded in front of their eyes, as they lost Donovan Mitchell to an ankle injury.
With their star sidelined and the Indiana Pacers firing on all cylinders, Kenny Atkinson’s side was outmatched in every way, falling 129-109 in Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals.
The loss puts Cleveland in a 3-1 hole heading back home for Game 5, with elimination suddenly looming large.
Indiana was relentless, dominating from the opening tip. They kicked things off with a 22-10 run, setting the tone for what turned into a historic first half.
Things got chippy late in the first quarter when Bennedict Mathurin and De’Andre Hunter got tangled in a heated exchange.
De’Andre Hunter to the ref after he shoved Bennedict Mathurin
“He punched me in the stomach”
🍿🍿🍿 pic.twitter.com/FyS4HQkIkY
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) May 12, 2025
Mathurin appeared to land a blow to Hunter’s chest, prompting Hunter to shove him to the floor. After a lengthy review, Mathurin was ejected with a Flagrant 2, while Hunter got off with just a technical. Myles Turner was also slapped with a tech for getting involved.
Despite losing Mathurin early, the Pacers barely missed a beat. They surged to a 38-23 lead after one quarter, holding the Cavs to just four made shots.
That momentum carried into the second, where Indiana opened with a 10-0 run and later ended the half on a blistering 19-2 stretch.
By halftime, they were up by 41, tying an NBA playoff record. Indiana racked up 80 points on 60% shooting, dishing out a playoff-era record 25 assists in a half. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers had just eight field goals to show for their efforts.
The second half brought more bad news for Cleveland. Mitchell, who had 12 points in the first half, didn’t return after tweaking his ankle while warming up.
He was ruled doubtful and never made it back to the bench.
“He’ll have an MRI on Monday”, said Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson.
Cleveland showed brief life after Mitchell’s exit, but never truly threatened. Darius Garland led with 21 points and six assists, while turnovers (22 in total) and sloppy play doomed any comeback hopes.
Indiana, led by Pascal Siakam’s efficient 21-point night and strong support from Turner and Obi Toppin, looked every bit like a team ready to move on. If the Cavaliers can’t regroup quickly, their NBA season may end Tuesday – get all the latest odds with US Sportsbooks.
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