Cleveland Cavaliers’ playoff dreams were crushed Tuesday night as the Indiana Pacers eliminated them in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Despite a historic regular season and top seed in the East, the Cavs fell short with a 114-105 loss, ending the series 4-1.
After the buzzer sounded and fans cleared the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Donovan Mitchell returned to the bench nearly an hour later, visibly emotional about the abrupt end to what was one of the most promising seasons in Cavaliers history.
“I just couldn’t believe it. Didn’t want to believe it,” Mitchell said postgame. “It’s tough. It’s tough to win in this league … We didn’t get it done, especially at home. That’s what hurts.”
Mitchell Shines Despite Injury in NBA Playoffs Exit
The 2025 NBA Playoffs saw Donovan Mitchell deliver standout performances, averaging 34.2 points per game in the series. He dropped a game-high 35 points and 9 rebounds in the Cavaliers’ final game, despite battling an ankle injury that sidelined him for the second half of Game 4.
Mitchell, 28, is in the first year of a three-year, $150 million contract extension he signed last summer. Yet, even with an All-Star performance throughout the postseason, the Cavaliers couldn’t advance beyond the second round.
Cavaliers’ Historic Season Ends in Disappointment
Cleveland opened the 2024-25 season with a remarkable 15-game winning streak and finished the regular season with 64 wins — the second-best in franchise history. However, their playoff run ended with three straight home losses to the Indiana Pacers, who now move on to their second consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearance.
“Y’all are going to write us off, man. But we’ll be back,” said Mitchell after the loss. “We let the city down, we let each other down. But we’ll be back.”
Social Media Reacts to Cavaliers’ Early Playoff Exit
NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins echoed the disappointment on X (formerly Twitter), pointing out that a Donovan Mitchell-led team has never reached a conference finals.
“A Donovan Mitchell-led team has never been to a Conference Finals. I don’t care how you slice it, but this season for the Cavs is a complete failure,” Perkins wrote.
Cavaliers’ Future Remains Bright
Despite the early exit, Cavaliers team owner Dan Gilbert expressed confidence in the team’s future, citing the young core and the experience gained during this playoff run.
“We have a talented young core that will learn from this and continue to get better. We appreciate your incredible support all season long. We will do everything to be back,” Gilbert said on social media.
With a strong roster, Mitchell’s leadership, and valuable postseason lessons, the Cleveland Cavaliers remain a team to watch in future NBA Playoffs.
