1-3 behind! Cavaliers set a record, Mitchell injured, Garland 21+6, Pacers win 41 points in half

Editor|Lao Kankanqiu

On May 12, the fourth game of the series started in the second round of the 2024-25 NBA playoffs. The Indiana Pacers continued to sit at home and face the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the first three games, the Cavaliers were careless in G1, Jingzhou lost one game first, and then G2 was defeated again in a desperate situation. Fortunately, G3 turned the tide and won a game back, and the Pacers are currently 1-2 behind the Pacers. Although the main lineup of the Cavaliers has returned, their crisis has not been resolved. Garland's toe sprained toe has returned early, and his condition fluctuates too much. Hunter has not fully recovered after his comeback. The team's potential for injury is still very high. "No one knows what I've been through. At this time, I just want to play and help the team win the game," Garland said in an interview with the media. "Although there is more or less the impact of injury, that's part of the game!"

It's obvious that both teams have core players who have poor performance. Halliburton G3 also performed mediocrely, with 2 of 8 shots and only 4 points and 5 assists, and once missed the press conference after the game. Before the game, Halliburton talked about his current feelings when talking about his current feelings: "I'm sorry, my performance in the last game was very bad, but this is part of the growth process. I will learn from the lessons and keep moving forward!" Before the game, the US media ESPN also gave a prediction of the winning rate of today's game: the Pacers' winning rate is still not high, only 43.9%, while the Cavaliers' winning rate is 56.1%. Obviously, the US media is more optimistic that the Cavaliers can rewrite the big score to a 2-2 draw. In terms of starting lineup, all players can play on the Cavaliers. The starting five-man lineup of coach Atkinson is: Garland, Mitchell, Mobley, Allen, and Struth; on the Pacers, Isaiah Jackson continues to be absent, and the starting lineup is: Halliburton, Turner, Nesmith, Siakam, and Nembhard.

The first quarter started, and both sides were full of gunpowder. After Siakam scored, he directly knocked down Struz. The referee did not call any punishment after watching the video. The Pacers took the lead 12-5 to stop the Cavaliers. Mitchell failed to make a continuous strong attack, and Allen made consecutive mistakes. Turner supported the pass from the basket at a high position, tied the baseline and received the ball and completed a one-arm dunk. Turner received the ball in a large open position and made another three-pointer. The Pacers led to 12 points. The Cavaliers scored no sports goal for more than 8 consecutive minutes, and scored 9 points by pointing to the free throw. Matherine hit Hunter's vital point without the ball, but the referee did not express anything. Then Hunter pushed Matherine down hard, and the two sides clashed. After the referee reviewed the video, Matherine was sentenced to directly expel the second-level malicious foul. Hunter and Turner each received a technical foul. Mitchell broke through Europe and made a step-by-step throw, ending the Cavaliers' score drought. After the first quarter, the Cavaliers fell 15 points behind the Pacers 23-38.

Back in the second quarter, Garland and Jerome made three mistakes in succession. After Siakam chased for two three-pointers at the top of the arc, he assisted and scored to complete a double-handed dunk. The Pacers widened the gap to 25 points and stopped the Cavaliers again. Mitchell made a strong breakthrough at the basket and caused Shepard to foul, walked to the free throw line, tied the bottom corner and launched a breakthrough, and immediately responded. Halliburton hit the ball in the east and didn't look at the people and gave him assists. Turner received the ball at the basket and scored 2+1, and the Pacers had already led to 28 points. Mitchell finally made a three-pointer to stop the bleeding in time. Turner received the ball from the top of the arc and then made a three-pointer. Then Halliburton made another three-pointer. Then Turner made two consecutive three-pointers, 4 of 4 of 4 three-pointers had already scored 18 points. Nesmith could still make a buzzer-beating mid-range shot. The Pacers scored a 21-2 offensive climax at the end of the half, leading the Cavaliers 80-39 by 41 points.

Half-court data, on the Cavaliers, Mitchell made only 3 of 11 shots, 1 of 5 three-pointers, and 5 of 6 free throws scored 12 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal and 1 block.

In addition, the Cavaliers only hit 8 sports goals in the first half, setting a record for the lowest number of goals in the first half (including regular season, midseason and playoffs). On the Pacers, Halliburton played for 16 minutes, made 3 of 6 shots, 1 of 3 three-pointers, 4 of 5 free throws, scored 11 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists; Turner played for 15 minutes, made 7 of 11 shots, and 4 of 4 three-pointers, scored 18 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists.

It is worth mentioning that the Cavaliers only sent 3 assists in the first half, but had as many as 14 turnovers; on the other hand, the Pacers gave 25 assists, but only 4 turnovers.

Surprisingly, Mitchell did not appear in the second half, and he was not seen on the bench, and no Mitchell was given any injuries. Then during the quarter, the Cavaliers official gave news that Mitchell was injured during the intermission and would not return in this game.

The change of sides and then changed sides, Turner grabbed the position and hit Struce's neck, but the referee called a normal foul after looking back, which caused dissatisfaction from the Cavaliers coach. Mobley received the ball, facing the two defense jumped and dunked with both hands. The Cavaliers chased to a 32-point difference. The scores of the two teams then rose alternately, and the score difference remained at around 30 points. In the fourth quarter, McConnell scored 5 points in a row in the foreign shot, and the Cavaliers fell behind to 35 points 79-114, and directly surrendered and replaced them with all substitutes. In the end, the Cavaliers lost to the Pacers again and suffered a big defeat. They fell behind 1-3 in a big score and were already standing on the edge of the cliff.

In terms of data, on the Cavaliers, Mitchell was injured and did not play in the second half. He made 3 of 11 shots, scored 12 points, 1 rebound, 0 assists, 1 steal and 2 mistakes; Garland scored 6 of 11 shots, 21 points, 6 assists and 3 mistakes; Allen only contributed 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 mistakes in a slump.

On the Pacers, Halliburton made 3 of 8 shots, scoring 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists; Siakam scored 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists; Totto scored 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists efficiently; Turner scored 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists.