Fourth-seeded Indiana won with 114–105 tonight and advanced to the semifinals via 4–1 in matches. For the Cleveland players – the team was ranked as number one ahead of the NBA playoffs in the eastern conference – the shock was huge after the elimination.
Star Donovan Mitchell returned to the court ten minutes after the final signal in an attempt to take in what had happened at home.
I couldn't believe it. I didn't want to believe it. I still don't want to believe it, he says.
Despite a sprained ankle, guard Mitchell played for 38 minutes and accounted for 39 points, but it wasn't enough. The season is over.
We didn't get the job done. Nothing else needs to be said. We let the city down. We have let each other down in the team, he says.
Indiana will face the winner of the meeting between New York Knicks and reigning champion Boston Celtics in the semifinals. New York leads the match series in best of seven with 3–1.
In the western conference, it was a win for Oklahoma City against Denver with 112–105, leading with 3–2 in matches. In the other quarterfinal, Minnesota leads with 3–1 in matches against Golden States Warriors.
