The Cavs Are BACK! Game 3 Blowout Against the Pacers
Wow. Just wow. The Cleveland Cavaliers absolutely *destroyed* the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals matchup, winning 126-104. It was a total turnaround from Game 2, and honestly, who saw that coming?
The biggest reason? The return of Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and De'Andre Hunter. These guys had missed Game 2 with injuries, and their absence was *clearly* felt. Getting them back, alongside another monster performance from Donovan Mitchell, completely changed the game.
Mitchell's Masterclass and the Return of the Big Three
Donovan Mitchell was, as usual, phenomenal. 43 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists? The guy was unstoppable. But it wasn't just him. The return of the injured trio was huge.
Darius Garland, playing on a sprained toe, still managed 10 points in 25 minutes. He provided that crucial secondary ball-handling that takes so much pressure off Mitchell. Seriously impressive, considering the pain he was clearly in.
Evan Mobley, our reigning Defensive Player of the Year, was his usual all-around beast. 18 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks – while playing on a sprained ankle! It’s almost unfair how good this guy is.
And De'Andre Hunter coming off the bench? Eight points and five rebounds – a solid contribution that really solidified their bench strength. It was amazing to see the team's depth really shine.
Oh, and let's not forget Max Strus! 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists – the guy was everywhere. He truly showed his all-around skillset. It's great to see him step up like this.
Having their full starting five (Garland, Mitchell, Strus, Mobley, and Allen) on the court together made all the difference. The synergy was obvious – they were just dominant.
Coach Kenny Atkinson praised his team’s grit, talking about their "now or never" attitude. He especially called out Garland's sacrifice, playing through the pain to help the team win. It’s inspiring to see that kind of dedication.
The Pacers' Struggles and a Controversial Commentary
The Pacers? Well, it wasn’t their night. Their star player, Tyrese Haliburton, had a really quiet game, scoring only four points. The Cavs' defense, particularly Mobley and Hunter, really shut them down. Bennedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 23 points, but it wasn’t nearly enough.
And to add insult to injury, the Pacers racked up five technical fouls. You know how sometimes things just spiral? That kinda felt like that.
Unfortunately, there was also a lot of controversy surrounding ESPN commentator Cory Alexander. Many viewers accused him of being heavily biased toward the Cavaliers, and social media was *blowing up* with complaints about his commentary. It definitely overshadowed parts of the game.
It's a reminder of the importance of impartiality in sports commentary, especially during high-stakes playoff games. Let's hope for fairer coverage in Game 4.
Game 4: What's Next?
The series is now 2-1, and Game 4 is going to be HUGE. The Pacers will be playing at home, so they’ll be looking for a win to even things up. But the Cavs? They've got the momentum now, and they're going to be tough to beat. This series is far from over. It's going to be wild.
