Mitchell Vows Bounce-Back After Cavs' Playoff Blowouts

After a pair of demoralizing blowout losses in Orlando, Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell is vowing to be more aggressive and raise his level of play for the pivotal Game 5 at home.

The All-Star guard has struggled mightily in the two road games, scoring just 13 points in the Cavs’ worst playoff loss in franchise history in Game 3, before going scoreless in the second half of Game 4 as Cleveland blew a nine-point halftime lead.

“I just can’t take four shots in that half,” Mitchell said about his quiet second-half performance in Game 4. “I hold myself accountable for that, and I’ll be better.”

Since his 30-point outburst in the series opener, Mitchell is averaging just 18 points while shooting an uncharacteristic 38% from the field and 20% from three-point range over the last three games. He has looked a step slower, unable to create his usual separation with his lethal crossover step-back move.

While Mitchell has dismissed talk of any injury limitations from the lingering effects of the left knee issue that bothered him down the stretch, his performance suggests otherwise. The explosive scoring barrages that defined his stellar regular season have been absent.

“I’m good,” Mitchell insisted when asked directly about his health. However, he acknowledged the need to be far more assertive. “I told you after Game 1, this is who I am…14 shots and 16 shots in consecutive games — right, wrong or indifferent — speaks to the level of aggression. And I wasn’t that.”

With the best-of-seven series now even at 2-2, Game 5 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse looms immense for both teams’ championship hopes. The Cavaliers are looking to regain control on their home floor, while the upstart Magic have seized momentum.

For Cleveland to advance, they will likely need Mitchell operating at his peak powers, proving capable of taking over games with his electric scoring bursts. Over his first five playoff runs with the Utah Jazz, Mitchell had nine 30-point games and was a 36% three-point shooter.

But through four games against Orlando’s gritty defense, Mitchell has yet to truly catch fire. Much of the credit goes to the relentless on-ball pressure of rookie guard Jalen Suggs.

“I’m good,” Mitchell reiterated about his health. Though he missed 16 of Cleveland’s final 18 regular season games managing the knee issue, the 26-year-old is putting the onus on himself to find another gear.

“The past two games have been not what we wanted, but we have a chance to take care of business at home and that’s pretty much the only mindset,” Mitchell stated.

The stakes will only rise from here. Mitchell is eligible for a massive contract extension from the Cavaliers this summer. His ability to lift his game and help Cleveland make a deep playoff run could impact both team’s futures significantly.

For now though, Mitchell’s singular focus is on making the most of this opportunity, putting the recent disappointments behind him and imposing his will like he did throughout a brilliant regular season.

“Give them credit. Give us credit,” Mitchell said. “We did what we were supposed to do. So now it’s can we do it again? We will. That’s where we’re at. Otherwise, we’re going home, and we don’t want that to happen.”