Cavaliers Eliminated After Max Strus Scoreless Game 5 Against Pacers

Before Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers wing Max Strus sent a motivational group text to his teammates that read, "If you don’t believe, don’t show up for work." Despite his intent to rally the team, Strus ironically went scoreless in the game, missing all nine of his shot attempts, contributing to Cleveland's 114-105 loss and elimination from the playoffs. Strus had been one of the Cavaliers' more consistent scorers earlier in the series, averaging over 15 points per game and shooting 40% from three-point range. The loss also underscored the Cavaliers' struggles with injuries to key players like Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, which hampered their postseason performance. Fans and commentators quickly mocked Strus on social media for the contrast between his pre-game message and his poor performance, amplifying the disappointment of the Cavs' unexpected early exit as the top seed in the East.