Donovan Mitchell Predicted To Have One 40-Point Game In Cavs-Pacers Series

May 4, 2025

The Cleveland Cavaliers face the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs. The Cavaliers are looking to advance to the conference finals for the first time since 2018.

Cleveland is favored to defeat Indiana since Kenny Atkinson’s group is the No. 1 seed in the East and one NBA analyst predicted that Donovan Mitchell will have one 40-point game in the best-of-seven series.

“Indiana’s defense won’t do quite enough to stop Cleveland, though. In particular, Donovan Mitchell is going to have at least one vintage night with 40-plus points,” Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report wrote. “He already has five such performances in the playoffs, which ties him for 26th place in NBA history. After averaging 23.8 points in only 31.0 minutes per game against Miami in the first round, he’s due for a big outing.

“Even with the Pacers having Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith to throw at him, Mitchell will go nuclear at some point in this series. After all, those two have to pay attention to Darius Garland and Ty Jerome as well. While one explosive-scoring night won’t necessarily decide the matchup, it’s not hard to imagine the Cavs winning this in six when combined with all of the little advantages they have over the Pacers.”

Mitchell averaged 27.0 points against the Pacers during the regular season. He shot 47.5% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc.

The Pacers did go 3-1 against the Cavaliers in the regular season. Indiana is a confident group with one of the top offenses in the NBA. Rick Carlisle‘s group beat the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round in five games.

The Cavaliers swept the Miami Heat in the first round. It was one of the easiest series in franchise history. Mitchell and Co. know that the Pacers pose a much different challenge than the Heat did.

“(Indiana’s) guys have been farther in the playoffs and whatnot,” Mitchell said. “It’s the same mentality we had against Miami. Take care of home court. Take care of business on the road. Rebound. Extra possessions. Get back in transition. You know, stick to what you do and do it better for 48 minutes.”