Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell didn’t hold back after his team’s season came to a disappointing end on Monday night. Following a 114–105 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Mitchell used his postgame comments to send a pointed message—not just to his teammates, but to the media as well.
The Cavs, who entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the East, couldn’t overcome Indiana’s relentless energy, dropping three straight games at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. It marked a stunning end to a season that had promised so much.
Mitchell Turns the Page, Fires Subtle Shot at Media
During the postgame press conference, Mitchell acknowledged the pain of the loss but quickly shifted focus to the future. He emphasized the need for growth and accountability, while also taking a subtle jab at the media for doubting them:
“We gotta use this as motivation. Everybody’s gonna write us off—everybody in here. I mean, it’s not personal. So what are we gonna do about it next year?”
The six-time All-Star didn’t stop there. With raw emotion and visible frustration, Mitchell doubled down on his belief that the Cavs will bounce back, even if the media doesn’t believe in them:
“Y’all gonna write us the f*** off, man. But we’ll be back. We let the city down, we let each other down—but we’ll be back.”
Cavs Falter at Home as Pacers Punch Their Ticket
Despite Mitchell’s 35-point performance, the Cavaliers couldn’t muster enough firepower to keep their postseason hopes alive. The Pacers, led by Tyrese Haliburton (31 points) and Pascal Siakam (21 points), completed a 4–1 series win and advanced to their second straight Eastern Conference Finals.
What’s particularly shocking is how vulnerable Cleveland looked on their home court—a place where they were nearly unbeatable during the regular season. The Cavs had a 64–18 overall record, largely thanks to their dominance at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. But in the playoffs, the magic faded. They dropped 10 postseason games at home, three of them to the Pacers alone.
Indiana, who beat Cleveland five times this season, clearly had their number—handing the Cavs 50% of their home losses all year.
Silver Lining in Mitchell’s Performance
While the team performance fell short, Mitchell did everything he could to keep the Cavaliers afloat. His 35-point outburst showcased his elite scoring ability, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Pacers’ momentum.
Looking ahead, Cleveland has tough questions to answer about roster construction, coaching strategy, and playoff resilience. But if Mitchell’s words are any indication, he’s not backing down from the challenge—and neither are the Cavaliers.