Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell: It’s Best-Of-Three Now And I’ll Be Better

Both of those games came in Orlando, Games 3 and 4, which the Cavs lost. 

Luckily for them, they won Games 1 and 2 in Cleveland. Game 5 is also in Cleveland. But more on that in a minute.

Let’s revisit Game 4, as tough as it may be. The Cavs actually led at halftime (60-51). Then came the third quarter — when they were outscored, 37-10. 

Unreal. And really, really unreal when they were supposed to be extra motivated after losing Game 3 by 38 points.

Cavs star Donovan Mitchell scored 18 points in the first half. He also finished with 18 points. That means he scored exactly zero over the final two quarters.

“You can’t have a drought like that,” he told NBA reporters. “It starts with me. I didn’t score in the second half. I’ve been starting second halves like that all series. Ten points (in the third quarter) is outrageous. We have to be better. I have to be better. I’m disappointed in myself and I’ll be better.”

Mitchell shouldn’t be alone in the disappointment department. The Cavs’ bench has been atrocious, offering nearly nothing. In the past two games, coach J.B. Bickerstaff has used three players in reserve (other than garbage time) — Caris LeVert, Isaac Okoro and Georges Niang. Each has been MIA.

For the Cavs, it will take a lot to remove the stench of their last two losses. But Mitchell suggested heading back home should help a lot in the area.

“It’s 2-2. You give credit where credit is due. They handled their business at home, that’s it,” he said. “It’s upsetting we didn’t respond, but we’ll find a way to do it at the crib like we did the first two games. Or else we will be home early. But they did it for two games. We did it for two games. It’s best-of-three now.”

That it is. And as Mitchell indicated, the Cavs had best get the next.

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