Cavs rally behind Evan Mobley’s return to dominate Pacers in Game 3 win

In Game 3 against the Indiana Pacers, the Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t just win a playoff game. Instead, it saw Evan Mobley and the Cavs rediscover who they are.

With their season hanging in the balance and a daunting 2-0 series hole to climb out of, it wasn’t a high-flying dunk or a buzzer-beating three that changed everything. It was Mobley, elevating to meet Tyrese Haliburton at the rim and sending his shot back with force and purpose. In that moment, the Cavs reconnected with the gritty, defensively dominant version of themselves, and they didn’t look back.

Cleveland’s 124-106 victory in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals wasn’t just a response. It was a revival. And no one embodied that more than Mobley.

After missing Game 2 with a sprained ankle, Mobley returned and imposed his will with 18 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and three blocks. However, for Mobley, it wasn’t just about filling the box score. It was about anchoring the defense, energizing the team, and making the kind of statement only a franchise cornerstone can.

“I mean, you saw Evan Mobley blocking shots on the glass, obviously his scoring, but just his presence down there with [Jarrett Allen], it just helps everybody,” said guard Donovan Mitchell, who poured in a game-high 43 points in yet another terrific playoff performance.

Mobley wasn’t the only Cavs player gutting through injury to be back on the floor. Darius Garland returned from a painful toe sprain that had sidelined him for four games, and De’Andre Hunter fought through a dislocated thumb. The trio’s availability was in question until just before tip-off. Head coach Kenny Atkinson admitted the decision came down to the wire.

“Yeah, I guess you just get adrenaline going and, listen, those guys — we were down 2-0,” Atkinson said. “It was kind of now or never.”

The Cavs saw immediate results from their returning players