Cavaliers Lose Eastern Conference Semifinals 4-1 to Pacers Despite 64 Wins

The Cleveland Cavaliers, despite a franchise-best 64-win regular season and a No.1 seed in the Eastern Conference, were eliminated in the conference semifinals by the Indiana Pacers in five games, marking another disappointing playoff exit. Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell expressed deep frustration and disbelief over the loss, admitting he struggled to accept the outcome and felt the team let down their city, especially after losing all three home games in the series. Mitchell performed strongly throughout the series, averaging 34.2 points per game while playing through a left ankle injury, but the team struggled to maintain leads and was outplayed physically and mentally by the Pacers. Injuries to key players like Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and De’Andre Hunter further hampered Cleveland’s efforts. The Cavs' core remains under contract, but salary cap constraints may limit roster improvements. Mitchell vowed to use the defeat as motivation to come back stronger next season, acknowledging that regular-season success means little without playoff resilience.