The Cleveland Cavaliers suffered an unfortunate loss in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Sunday night when the Indiana Pacers pulled away late in the fourth quarter to win 121-112 and go up 1-0 in the series.
Cleveland scored just 22 points in the final period and will look to avoid dropping the first two games of the series at home when the Cavs suit up for Game 2 on Tuesday night.
It was a jarring start to the series that has fans a bit worried, but Aaron Goldhammer of The Really Big Show said Monday morning that fans need to relax and act like they have been there before.
“Some of you are acting like you have never been in a playoff series before. How many times did the Cavs lose Game 1. Game 1 is a feel-out game for everybody. You’re forgetting Brian Windhorst’s playoff manifesto. Don’t overreact to Game 1, guys, come on!”
"Some of you are acting like you've never been in a playoff series before," – @HammerNation19 tells Cavs fans to R E L A X!
Do you agree? pic.twitter.com/W0DzVbfG9q
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) May 5, 2025
The concerns going into Game 2 are not so much the fact that the Cavs shot an uncharacteristic 9-for-38 from three-point range in Game 1, but more so the fact that Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and DeAndre Hunter are all banged up.
Garland is still out with a toe injury, while Mobley and Hunter were hurt on a couple of physical plays in Game 1, which has put each at legitimate risk of missing Game 2.
The on-court result is understandable following a long break since the end of the first-round sweep of the Miami Heat, but Game 2 is going to be stressful if all three of these key players are out.
Maybe fans are right to be worried about this one and aren’t just overreacting to Game 1.
NEXT: De’Andre Hunter Gets Honest About Cavs' Game 1 Loss
