Donovan Mitchell reflected on the Cavaliers’ shocking second-round playoff exit despite a 64-win season. He praised his teammates, expressed heartbreak over letting the city down, and vowed a comeback.
Donovan Mitchell sat alone on the bench, phone in hand but eyes lost in disbelief, as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ season came to a stunning end.
Player of the Game
Tyrese Haliburton
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Tyrese Haliburton
Points
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A 64-win campaign — the second-best in franchise history — was wiped away in a five-game semifinal loss to the Indiana Pacers.
"I just couldn't believe it. Didn't want to believe it. Still don't want to believe it," Mitchell admitted after the 114-105 defeat in Game 5.
Despite averaging 34.2 points through the series and playing through an aggravated ankle injury, Mitchell couldn’t lift the Cavs past a Pacers team that swept all three games in Cleveland — a building where the Cavaliers hadn’t lost back-to-back games all year.
"I love playing in that f---ing arena," Mitchell said. "This place is really special and we didn't get it done."
It’s a bitter blow for a star who’s made the playoffs every year of his career yet never escaped the second round — even twice as part of the top regular-season team in his conference.
Injuries certainly didn’t help. Darius Garland missed four playoff games. Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter missed key moments. Still, Mitchell refused to lean on excuses.
"Winning is not easy. Some things have to go right. We have a window with this group — I believe in everybody here."
Mitchell was defiant about the team's future: “We’ll be back. Let the city down, let each other down. But we’ll be back.”
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