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Cleveland Cavaliers vs Indiana Pacers Game 2 instant reaction in NBA playoffs
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- Cleveland Cavaliers vs Indiana Pacers Game 2 instant reaction in NBA playoffs
CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers fell behind in the series , 2-0, following a shocking, last-second 120-119 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 at Rocket Arena.
The Cavs were short-handed , playing without All-Star guard Darius Garland (toe), All-Star forward and Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley (ankle) and forward De'Andre Hunter, but Cleveland also came out with a renewed aggression that wasn't apparent in their Game 1 loss.
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Donovan Mitchell finished with 48 points, but the Cavaliers committed a series of errors in the final two minutes. Tyrese Haliburton scored five points in the final 12 seconds, including the game-winning, step-back 3-pointer with one second left on the clock following a Pacers offensive rebound.
The entire night, the Cavaliers appeared headed toward a tied series thanks to Mitchell's heroics, but an Indiana steal, an offensive rebound and Haliburton's 3-pointer, all in the final few moments, stunned the home crowd at Rocket Arena as the Pacers completed an 8-0 run to end the game.
The series now turns to Indiana for Games 3 and 4. But first, here are instant reactions from Game 2 from Beacon Journal writers Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich.
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Cavs vs Pacers Game 2: Ryan Lewis' instant reaction
This was one of the most stunning finishes to a basketball game you'll ever see. Donovan Mitchell was borderline heroic in Game 2, pouring in 48 points and taking a beating in the paint nearly every possession. How he wasn't completely gassed in the third quarter is beyond me, but he kept going, kept taking hits, kept making baskets, kept leading the charge. And yet, somehow, it wasn't enough. If Evan Mobley remains out, that is a crushing blow after such a back-breaking loss, and Darius Garland and De'Andre Hunter being sidelined would obviously hurt as well. But for Mitchell to do all of that — 48 points and nine assists, plus a terrific game from Max Strus and Jarrett Allen — and it still not being enough at home, that's a pretty awful sign for the Cavs. As long as the Cavs have Mitchell on the floor, they're still alive, in both any game and the series. But how they let this one slip through their fingers will have Cleveland shell-shocked. If the Cavs return Mobley and Co., all bets can be off for the rest of the series. If they remain out, Cleveland is in serious trouble and entering survival mode on the road.
Cavs vs Pacers Game 2: Nate Ulrich's instant reaction
For much of Game 2, the Cavaliers brought the defensive intensity they lacked during their 121-112 loss in Game 1. Here's just one example: Center Jarrett Allen's strength isn't guarding opponents on the perimeter, but it's necessary against the Pacers' five-out offense. With 2:35 left in the second quarter, Allen applied suffocating pressure against Pacers center Myles Turner near the 3-point line. In a moment of desperation and perhaps in an attempt to draw a foul, Turner heaved the ball into the air as if he punted it. The result was a shot clock violation on the Pacers. In Game 1, the Pacers went 44-of-83 shooting from the field (53%), including 19 of 36 on 3-pointers (52.8%). They had a sizzling shooting night, but the Cavs played a part because they didn't consistently contest shots well enough. From Cleveland's perspective, improvements were required. And in Game 2, the Pacers finished 44-of-85 shooting from the field (51.8%), including 11 of 28 on 3s (39.3%). However, the Cavs were shorthanded and appeared to be gassed late in the game. They were outscored 36-21 in the fourth quarter and fell in heartbreaking fashion when Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton made the game-winning 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds left to play.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs postgame instant reactions after Game 2 loss to Indiana Pacers
