Dribbles: Cavs Get Stars And Mojo Back, Win Convincingly, And Now We Have A Series

May 9, 2025

Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ fairly easy 126-104 road win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 on Friday night. …

1. What a difference having your entire team makes. Especially when two of the guys previously missing are All-Stars.

2. I’m talking about Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, who returned from injuries to make the Cavs whole again. De’Andre Hunter, who’s no slouch himself, was also back.

3. The Cavs looked energized, extra determined, and pretty doggone efficient. Coincidence? Yeah, um, no.

4. Honestly, the only thing up for debate after this one was which was better — Donovan Mitchell‘s second straight Michael Jordan-like eruption, or the Cavs’ 3-2 zone defense.

5. Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton would probably pick the Cavs’ defense. Everyone else is likely to go with Mitchell, who detonated to the tune of 43 points. That, of course, came one game after going for 48.

6. But as I wrote in my game recap, this time, Mitchell had lots of help. Garland’s ball-handling, passing, and toughness made a major impact in just 25 minutes. That sprained big toe? Yeah, it’s not really much better, in case you’re wondering. Nonetheless, he clearly could no longer bear to just sit and watch after the Cavs fell into a 2-0 series hole.

7. Well, thanks to Mitchell, Garland, Mobley, Max Strus, Jarrett Allen and contributions from many others, it’s now 2-1, with Game 4 on Sunday, also in Indiana.

8. So, yes, the Cavs still trail in this best-of-seven ordeal. But things sure seem a lot less daunting. The Pacers are always going to make a run. Seriously. Always and forever, amen. This time, though, the Cavs were much better equipped to handle it.

9. If Mobley’s ankle sprain is still bugging him, you sure wouldn’t know it. He looked as mobile and effective as ever. Challenging shots. Attacking the rim. Tying Mitchell with a team-high five offensive rebounds (and collecting a team-high 13 overall).

10. Mobley is perhaps the most laid-back individual in the history of sports, and probably way up there when it comes to the history of humans. But man, he is an absolute monster when he’s at the top of his game.

11. Translation: The Cavs are so, so much better with Garland, Mobley, Hunter … and all of their pieces. I won’t be winning any Pulitzers for that obvious dose of information, but it is worth bringing up. Because all their pieces were back, and the result was the Pacers waving the white flag and clearing the bench late in the fourth.

12. So many guys were vital that it can be easy to forget to mention them all. Let’s not do that this time with Strus. He buried the first shot of the game, a 3-pointer, and scored eight during the Cavs’ 11-0 run to open the game. He set the tone.

13. Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson to reporters on Strus: “He’s just a tough son of a gun,” and that about sums it up.

14. As for Garland, yes, he gave off basketball warrior vibes. “He’s just playing through a lot of pain, quite honestly,” Atkinson said. The Cavs needed every one of his 25 minutes, as well as the 21 delivered by Hunter.

15. Others who didn’t have huge nights statistically (or even small nights) still left their imprint on the game. I’m thinking specifically of Sam Merrill, who has become the ultimate utility man.

16. Merrill entered the season with a reputation as little more than a 3-point specialist. Now, he’s struggling to consistently hit threes — yet Atkinson can’t take him off the court. Merrill just does so many other things well.

17. And if you’re looking for a few reasons why Haliburton managed just four points on a miserable 2-of-8 shooting, you can credit the defense of Merrill, Strus, Hunter, and a few others. “Man, I love Sam Merrill,” Mitchell told reporters after the win.

18. Strus finished with 20 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Allen had 19 points and 12 boards, and Mobley went for 18 and (again) 13, respectively. Garland scored 10 and Hunter had eight. Oh, and Mitchell not only tallied 43 points but also grabbed nine rebounds with five assists.

19. Still, if you’re asking me (and since this is my website, you are), it was the defense that truly did it. Should the Cavs keep that up, they’re highly likely to get the same result over and over again.

19. All they intend to do now, though, is focus on Sunday’s Game 4. And they go into it with a plan — and a full team — that’s proven to work.