Donovan Mitchell Shines, but Cavaliers Collapse in Loss to Pacers in Game 2

But the game quickly turned, as Indiana mounted an 8-0 run which culminated in heartbreak for Cleveland fans, and a 120-119 win for the visiting Pacers. Key moments included an offensive foul on Mitchell and a critical turnover by Max Strus on an inbounds pass.

With Cleveland's lead cut to three points, and 12.4 seconds remaining on the clock, Haliburton was fouled and made his first free throw. He intentionally missed his second attempt but secured the offensive rebound and hit a step-back 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds left to give Indiana the lead—and the win.

With Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley, Darius Garland and De'Andre Hunter all sidelined due to injury, the Cavaliers relied heavily on Mitchell throughout the contest. Still, the star faulted himself after the game for Cleveland's last-minute collapse, including Haliburton's offensive rebound.

"I should have grabbed the ball," Mitchell told reporters. "I was right there. That's on me." He also addressed the late offensive foul: "I tried to be strong with the ball. I knew they were going to trap... but the elbow was too high."

Watch Donovan Mitchell's Full Post-Game Press Conference Here:

The series now shifts to Indiana for Game 3 on Friday night. "We've got to go get two in Indy. Simple as that," Mitchell said. "We can sit here and dwell on this and be home in about four or five days, or we can move on and take some things that we did really well and go from there."

The Cavaliers have overcome 0-2 deficits three times in franchise history, most notably in the 2016 NBA Finals. But after Tuesday's painful loss, Cleveland must regroup quickly or risk an early exit.

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