Cleveland Cavaliers Playoff Collapse Complete, Lose to Pacers in Game 5

The Cleveland Cavaliers exit NBA Playoffs, waste 35 points from injured Donovan Mitchell in Game 5 loss to Indiana Pacers.

May 13, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) walks off the court after game five of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images / Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers' "historic" storybook season is officially over.

The Cavs were eliminated from the NBA Playoffs on Tuesday night, falling to the Indiana Pacers, 114-105, in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Cleveland lost three of four home games during the series, resulting in a repeat second-round exit—as the Pacers head to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second straight season.

Cleveland built an early 31-19 lead and held a five-point lead at halftime, before getting outscored 33-20 in the third quarter. The Cavaliers rallied late as Donovan Mitchell's three-pointer made it a one-point game with five minutes remaining. But Indiana's subsequent eight-point run left Cleveland with little time for the late-game heroics needed to force a Game 6 back in Indianapolis.

ANOTHA ONE. 👌@spidadmitchell | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/w9wlXjiuKD

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 14, 2025

Mitchell, despite playing through a left ankle injury which kept him out of the second half of Sunday's contest, led all players with 35 points. Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton, who had been largely absent over the past two games since his series-defining three-pointer in Game 2, led the Pacers with 31 points and eight assists.

The Cavaliers' early exit is a bitter pill to swallow for Cleveland fans after the team's 64-win season. The top seed in the East began the playoffs with a convincing sweep of the Miami Heat in the first round, but couldn't overcome injuries and a confident Pacers squad in the semifinals.

Cavs fans will have to endure a long offseason after the team failed to meet its lofty playoff aspirations. Despite this setback, Cleveland is expected to retain its core players, which should keep expectations high for the upcoming season.

A historical season and we couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you, Cavs fans. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/3bopACAK6b

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 14, 2025

The Cavaliers should be optimistic about their growth prospects under the guidance of head coach Kenny Atkinson, who earned both the NBCA Coach of the Year Award and NBA Coach of the Year honors in his first season with the team. Atkinson’s tenure in Cleveland began with a remarkable 15-game winning streak, which set the tone for the year. Although they ultimately fell short against the Indiana Pacers, the future remains bright for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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