Donovan Mitchell’s playoff struggles continued as his championship aspirations crumbled once again in the conference semifinals.
Despite battling through an ankle injury to deliver a 39-point performance, Mitchell watched helplessly as the Indiana Pacers surged past the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second half, securing a 114-105 victory on Tuesday night that eliminated the Eastern Conference’s top seed.
The disappointing exit prompted sharp criticism from ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith during a segment on First Take.
“You are now 0-4 in Conference semifinal games. Your greatness mandates more than trips to the semifinals of the conference playoffs,” Smith said.
"You are now 0-4 in conference semifinals games. … Your greatness mandates more than trips to the semifinals of the conference playoff."
—@stephenasmith on how much criticism Donovan Mitchell deserves pic.twitter.com/hc13RfeS10
— First Take (@FirstTake) May 14, 2025
The Cleveland Cavaliers entered the series with considerable advantages, boasting one of the league’s best overall records and the NBA’s most dominant home court advantage.
Yet they stumbled badly when it mattered most, losing all three games at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Game 2 proved particularly devastating, as Cleveland surrendered a seven-point lead in the closing minutes through basic mistakes, including inbounding errors and critical turnovers.
Smith acknowledged Mitchell’s star status and reputation as a well-liked figure across the league.
While Mitchell put up impressive statistical performances, averaging 39 points on 44% shooting throughout the series, his three-point accuracy left much to be desired.
The ESPN personality argued that individual statistics ultimately mean little when teams repeatedly fall short in the playoffs.
Unlike Jimmy Butler, who has carried injury-depleted rosters to NBA Finals appearances, Mitchell has yet to reach that level, often faltering against opponents the Cavaliers were expected to overcome.
Despite Mitchell’s offensive brilliance, questions about his leadership abilities, late-game execution, and postseason ceiling now loom larger than ever before.
NEXT: Donovan Mitchell Reveals What Cavs Should Feel In Offseason
