Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 38 points and James Harden poured in 28 as the Cleveland Cavaliers let their star-studded backcourt carry the team past the Indiana Pacers 117-108. Obi Toppin and Micah Potter led the way for Indiana with 21 points each.
In what has become a tradition for the Cavs this season, they lallygagged their way through the first three quarters against an inferior opponent and relied on a huge fourth to win the game. The Cavs trailed by three points at the half, allowed the Pacers to put up 33 in the third, and then slammed the brakes in the fourth by allowing just 17 points en route to a nine-point victory.
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The Cavs were without Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, instead relying on a front court of Max Strus and Thomas Bryant, who combined for 18 points, 17 rebounds, and seven assists. Despite having a sizable portion of their rotation out due to injury, the Cavs were still double-digit favorites heading into the game, in large part because the Pacers are angling for a lottery pick and have no incentive to put their best lineups out there. And yet, despite this, the Cavs still had trouble putting them away.
Mitchell’s 38 points, six rebounds, and six assists qualify as another superstar effort. He played brilliantly, shot very efficiently (16-27 from the floor), and displayed what makes him one of the best overall players in the league.
The issue though is that the Cavs once again should not need Mitchell to drop a near 40-piece to come back against a Pacers lineup that features all bench players. To make matters even scarier, Mitchell landed awkwardly after a three-point attempt in the fourth quarter and was walking a little gingerly after it, although he said he was fine afterward. Given that the Cavs are now just one game away from clinching home court in the first round of the playoffs, it would not be surprising to see Mitchell’s minutes (and the rest of the core four, for that matter) decrease to near zero.
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Prior to tonight’s game, head coach Kenny Atkinson said the team is not set on having Max Strus as the team’s starting small forward going forward. And, after the performance he put up, that was probably the right decision. Strus was just 1-10 from the field and a team-low -8 in the +/- department. Atkinson said the team expects Jaylon Tyson back for the playoffs, which begin in 13 days, but it is concerning that he was also described as being “behind” Dean Wade in terms of recovery timeline. Both Tyson and Wade would be candidates to start at small forward.
The bench had an interesting game, with Craig Porter, Larry Nance Jr., and Dennis Schroder getting at least 20 minutes each. They combined to have a +/- of 27, but the counting stats are nothing flashy. Nance’s 22 minutes were the most for him in a single game since November 2nd, when he had 24 against the Atlanta Hawks.
With the Cavs all but locked into the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference, setting up for a date with the Atlanta Hawks, the final few games may look different. To make things even more interesting, the Cavs will play those same Hawks twice in the final four games. However, the Cavs lead them by 3.5 games, and the odds favor Cleveland maintaining their positioning.
It is a quick turnaround for Cleveland, who head to Memphis for a game on Monday night against the Grizzlies. Tip-off is at 8:00 p.m EST.
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