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'Hope we all feel it': Donovan Mitchell takes blame for Cavs playoff loss, delivers message
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- 'Hope we all feel it': Donovan Mitchell takes blame for Cavs playoff loss, delivers message
INDEPENDENCE — As Donovan Mitchell walked into a news conference the morning after the Cavaliers ' Game 5 loss to the Indiana Pacers , which ended Cleveland's playoff run , he looked to be moving a bit slower than normal.
It was because he hadn't yet slept.
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Roughly 11 hours after the final buzzer rang on both Game 5 and the series, Mitchell said he hadn't been able to fall asleep. He re-watched Game 5 — twice. He sat with the anger and the confusion of how he and the Cavs once again couldn't advance past the second round.
Mitchell was asked, with a hint of sarcasm given his appearance and how clear it was that he was still mourning the Cavs loss in the morning, if he was over the defeat.
"No, not at all. I haven't been to sleep yet," Mitchell said. "It's tough, man. It's tough. It's just — you put a lot into a season, you overcome different things throughout the year. … You feel like you're right on the cusp and then to end this way, it's tough. But ultimately you just go one of two ways. You can let it deter you from your goal. You can let it fuel you."
The Cavaliers had so much going for them as the playoffs began but, as the second series started, the Pacers ran them out of the building and then out of the playoffs.
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They won 64 games during the regular season. They clinched the No. 1 seed in the East. Last year, these Cavs won their first playoff series together and then lost to the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics . There were some real elements of progress they could take with them into the summer. But not this year, at least as far as the playoffs are concerned.
Clearly, up and down the roster, this series loss stung much deeper in the locker room. And that was part of Mitchell's message to his Cavs teammates: Feel that pain. Let it fuel you.
When asked what he hoped every player took into the summer from the Pacers series, Mitchell said bluntly, "The embarrassment."
"I hope we all feel it. And I think we do," Mitchell said. "It's not like we were an 8-seed trying to beat a 1-seed. We should feel that. And what's what I said to the guys in the locker room — feel this, embrace it. This is part of it. You can't run from this one."
Darius Garland (facing) hugs Donovan Mitchell after the Cavaliers' season-ending Game 5 loss in the second round of the NBA playoffs, May 13, 2025, in Cleveland.
Donovan Mitchell , Cavs discuss NBA playoff loss to Indiana Pacers
Mitchell, as the team's leader in many ways, took full responsibility for the loss. There were several elements of the Pacers series that caused the sleepless night, several plays he said simply can't happen, like the three missed free throws, a missed layup in which he slowed down, a missed defensive assignment that led to a Tyrese Haliburton 3-pointer, on and on.
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"Ultimately, being 'The Guy' with the success, you guys look at me. With the failures, you should look at me as well," Mitchell said. "That's part of my job. … And they hate that I do it. They wish I didn't put all the blame on myself. My mom for sure hates it. She wishes I was a little lighter on myself, but I don't know any other way."
It was also that the Cavs lost all three games at home, in front of the Cleveland fans.
"This is an amazing place to play," Mitchell said. "I've watched it on TV, I've been here during a Finals game, the towels, the screaming, the music, the fire, the vibe of driving in. This is a special place, and all season it felt like, man, all right, this is what I dreamed of as a kid.
"So who am I not to try to literally die out there on the floor for the fans that put so much into us, you know what I mean? It's not like that everywhere. I've been fortunate enough to play in two places that were like that. Utah was like this as well, similar. So I think for me and for us as a group, it's a special place, and I think that's what hurts, is not winning any game at home."
Cavaliers guards Darius Garland (left) and Donovan Mitchell react during the second half against the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 in the second round of the NBA playoffs, May 13, 2025, in Cleveland.
Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland detail injuries in Cavs-Pacers series
The Cavs haven't wanted to use them as excuses, but there's no getting around the frustration of a few injuries that popped up at the worst possible time. Mitchell confirmed he played through calf and ankle injuries . Darius Garland played through a sprained toe that required a steel plate to be worn in his shoe in order to separate and protect his toes.
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Garland gritted through the pain , but it was clear he wasn't able contribute at his normal levels because of the injury, which impacted his explosiveness. Still, even if he wasn't 100%, Garland was badly needed, so he worked it out.
"I'm trying to be out there for my guys," Garland said. "I'm trying to win a series, trying to win the games, trying to do as much as I can. I definitely wasn't myself out there. It was pretty uncomfortable but, like I said, trying to do anything to win the game."
Garland is the longest-tenured member of the roster core. He's been with the franchise ever since a 20-win season was something to aspire to — now they're winning 60-plus games. For him, it all played into the pain of experiencing this series loss.
"It's a lot of love for this city. I call it like my second home now," Garland said. "I love the people here. It reminds me of where I grew up — Gary, Indiana . So it really does feel like home to me. I really appreciate everybody here. … It's all love here."
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Now, a long summer awaits the Cavs. Mitchell knows it'll be a "loud" offseason filled with speculation and criticism. Even while he answered questions with local reporters, the team's practice facility had TVs on mute tuned to ESPN. Right in the middle of explaining all of this, Mitchell noticed the screen read, "How much criticism does Donovan Mitchell deserve?"
For a split second, all he could do was shake his head and laugh it off, considering the timing. It might have been the first time he cracked a smile since the final buzzer of Game 5.
Eventually, he'll be able to get some sleep. He also noted he's "going on tour" with some "good music." Then, he said, the work begins for all of them.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell react to loss to Indiana Pacers
