The Indiana Pacers might just have killed any hope the Cleveland Cavaliers had to fight back from a 2-0 deficit. Game 4 was a one-sided affair. The Pacers’ blistering offense was inspired by their defensive integrity, leading by 44 at one point in the game. However, the Cavaliers saw their haunting nightmare with injuries strike them once again. This time, it was Donovan Mitchell who got bit.

Spida had been on a tear prior to Game 4, averaging 41.3 points per game against the Pacers. Maybe his extreme efforts to put up a fight caused some wear and tear. Mitchell didn’t feature in the second half, and right now, his availability is a major concern for the Cavs. But right now, even Kenny Atkinson doesn’t know what to make of the situation.

“Left ankle injury,” he said of Mitchell’s ailment. The Cavaliers will carry out tests to assess its severity. “No idea. Obviously, couldn’t go in the second half, so we will see what the MRI says,” said the NBA’s Coach of the Year. The Cavaliers’ imperious guard did try to play through the ankle ailment.

Mitchell was the first one out for the shootaround before the second half. While he tried to test out his pain tolerance, footage of him evidently showing pain made the rounds. That’s when the coaching staff decided to take him back to the locker room for further evaluation. He never returned to the game after that.

Spida Mitchell clocked in just 20 minutes of the game, scoring 12 points on 3-11 shooting. Obviously, the Cavaliers will hope the MRI doesn’t reflect significant damage. With an improbable series score against them, they need the best out of Donovan Mitchell to stand a chance. But things aren’t looking uplifting for the franchise cornerstone.

Even if he does return, momentum completely sides with the Pacers, who are on the verge of making it to the Eastern Conference Finals for a second straight season.

The Pacers offered no remorse to the Cavaliers

With Donovan Mitchell or not, tonight was all about the Indiana Pacers’ fervour. Their arena showed intensity from the very beginning. The game featured an early ejection for Benedict Mathurin, intensifying the atmosphere of the occasion. But who knew the Pacers would feed off that energy?

The Pacers put up 80 points in the first half, shooting lights out against the Cavaliers. And although it’s not their strong suit, their defense was on point. The Cavaliers only scored 39 in that same period, handing Indiana a lopsided advantage going into the second half. And despite having injuries on his roster, Kenny Atkinson couldn’t overlook the Pacers’ energy.

“Complete domination by them and in every facet. It wasn’t like tactics or anything involved. They dominated us in ever facet of the game,” the defeated Cavs head coach said about Game 4.

There was no one great performance from any Pacer. In fact, Tyrese Haliburton only compiled five assists. At the same time, veteran Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner combined for 41 points, going 6-6 combined from three-point range. The Pacers’ bench outscored the Cavaliers’ starters 58-56.

That pretty much sums up how inferior the East’s number one seed was today. And now they are staring in the face of elimination. Only a handful of teams have come back from down 3-1. Within Cleveland’s history, its most famous memory involves such an astonishing comeback. However, with Donovan Mitchell in doubt and other players going through injuries, their hopes are bleak.