The Cleveland Cavaliers refused to surrender another fourth-quarter lead, holding strong to secure a 126-104 victory and closing the series gap to 1-2 against the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 10.
Indiana Pacers Top Performers:
Myles Turner 15 PTS | 3 REB | 3 BLK | 29.6 FPS
Turner came through in a big way after his team fell behind early, scoring 12 points in the first quarter, including going 5-for-6 from the free-throw line, to help bring his team back into the game. While his scoring slowed down for the rest of the game, he stayed productive particularly in defense with his shot-blocking, where he currently ranks second in the league. While he’s been inconsistent as a rebounder, he should remain highly valuable with his three-point shooting and defense.
Pascal Siakam 18 PTS | 4 REB | 3 AST | 26.3 FPS
Siakam started slow but took over in the fourth with 10 points to pull them back into the game. He’s averaged close to 16 points in three games this series, but he’s capable of doing much more. He’s scored at least 24 points three times in Game 1 against the Bucks.
TJ McConnell 12 PTS | 6 REB | 7 AST | 28.7 FPS
McConnell struggled in the first two games but delivered a quality performance today. If Haliburton continues to be ineffective, expect him to remain a valuable asset going forward.
Benedict Mathurin 23 PTS | 1 REB | 1 AST | 25.2 FPS
Mathurin has provided consistent offense, scoring 8/5/7 in the first three quarters to help his team stay in the game. He’s been a highly effective scorer in his last two games, averaging 21 points while going 12-for-21 from the field and 14-for-15 from the line. With no other player reaching the 20-point mark, the team will need him to continue providing this impact on offense in their next games.
Andrew Nembhard 10 PTS | 4 REB | 4 AST | 23.8 FPS
Nembhard was impressive in both of their wins, recording 23 points and 5 threes in Game 1 and finishing with 13 points and 13 assists in Game 2. While he didn’t have the same impact today, he still maintained his season averages while also contributing a solid impact on defense. If Haliburton continues to struggle, he will need to carry more of the offensive load.
Cleveland Cavaliers Top Performers:
Donovan Mitchell 43 PTS | 9 REB | 5 AST | 62.3 FPS
Mitchell has continued to put in an impressive amount of work, attempting at least 29 shots in each of his first three games while averaging 41.3 points. He’s also been highly productive at the free-throw line, going 11.0-for-14.7 on average, and has found his shot from the perimeter, making 5 threes today after shooting just 2-for-18 in the first two games. His standout performance earned him a spot in franchise history, joining LeBron James as the only players with back-to-back 40-point performances in the playoffs. Outside of offense, he also contributed strongly to playmaking and rebounding, where he recorded five offensive rebounds. They’ll need him to maintain this elite level of play so that they have a bigger chance of winning the series.
Evan Mobley 18 PTS | 13 REB | 4 AST | 57.6 FPS
Mobley returned strong after missing Game 2 with an ankle issue, finishing with his second double-double in this series. He was a game-changer on the inside, going 5-for-10 and grabbing 5 offensive rebounds, out-rebounding the whole Pacers. Defensively, he’s also been outstanding, racking up 6 stocks. Expect him to continue putting up big numbers in the next games.
Max Strus 20 PTS | 7 REB | 7 AST | 41.9 FPS
Strus got off to a fast start, scoring 8 to push the team to an 11-0 lead. He also provided consistent impact throughout the game, finishing with his second straight game with at least 20 points, 4 threes, and 7 rebounds. He’s been their most productive three-point shooter in the playoffs and should continue to make a difference going forward.
Jarrett Allen 19 PTS | 12 REB | 2 BLK | 39.4 FPS
Jarrett wasn’t much of a factor in Game 1 but has turned it around since, finishing with his 10th playoff career double-double today and averaging 20.5 points, 12 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks in the last two. He continues to be a difference maker in the interior, helping the Cavs to a +19 rebounding advantage today and a +44 points in the paint advantage in the series.
De’Andre Hunter 8 PTS | 1 3PM | 5 REB | 14.0 FPS
Hunter wasn’t at his best offensively, but still contributed good value in both scoring and rebounding. While his minutes and production have been limited, he remains a solid threat for breakout scoring performances.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Tyrese Haliburton 4 PTS | 5 AST | 1 STL
Halliburton has slowed down in his last two games. He not only posted his lowest scoring performance of the playoffs but also totaled just 9 assists after averaging nearly 12 in his first six postseason games. Not being able to create his own shots or space the floor, combined with the Cavs’ defensive focus on him, his production might not see much improvement in the next games.
