Cavaliers Reeling After Crashing Hard in Game 4
The Cleveland Cavaliers just witnessed a nightmare in real time. Their 129-109 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 wasn’t just another defeat—it was the kind of collapse that leaves scars. There’s no sugarcoating what happened: the Cavs were outmatched in ways rarely seen at this stage in the Cavaliers' postseason history.
The drama started in the second half, when Cleveland’s All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell limped off the court with a troubling left ankle injury. He’s set for an MRI, and the team is holding its breath. Coach Kenny Atkinson didn’t bother with optimism—he flat out admitted there’s “no idea” if Mitchell will return any time soon. His absence could flip the entire balance of the series.
A First-Half Rout Sets a Brutal Tone
What really shocked NBA fans was the numbers in the first half. Indiana walked into halftime up by a 41-point margin—tied for the largest halftime lead in playoff history. To put it bluntly, Cleveland was getting ran off the floor. Indiana scored 78 points in two quarters, torching the Cavs’ defense for 63.6% shooting and capitalizing on 10 careless Cleveland turnovers. Every missed pass and lazy screen turned into points for Indiana.
If you’re a Cavs fan, the pain wasn’t just on the scoreboard. The energy was missing entirely. The Pacers came in looking hungrier, more aggressive, and ready to take a punch if needed. Instead, they delivered haymakers—a massive 25 fast-break points, owning the glass with 48 rebounds to Cleveland’s 35, and putting the Cavs on their heels from the opening tip.
Coach Atkinson sounded frustrated after the game. He didn’t mince words. The Pacers “raised their game to another level,” and Cleveland looked a step slow at every turn. Whether it was Pascal Siakam bulldozing his way to 21 points or the Pacers’ backcourt slicing through the Cavs’ perimeter defense, the Cavaliers’ usual defensive schemes failed on every front. Dribble penetration led to easy buckets, and three-point shooters always seemed open.
The loss is more than just a single bad night. At 129-109, it’s the franchise’s worst playoff beating since 2018—the kind of blowout that LeBron James teams used to dish out, not receive. The Cavs haven’t suffered a 20-plus-point playoff loss since their dynasty days. Suddenly, their road playoff struggles aren’t just a blip—they’re a disturbing pattern.
As the series shifts back to Cleveland, questions hang over the team. Who steps up if Mitchell can’t go? Can this group find a backbone after getting dominated on national TV? Right now, the Cavs’ playoff future looks more uncertain than it has all season—and Game 4's shocking collapse is going to haunt them for a long time.