INDIANAPOLIS — The Cavaliers rebounded in a major way May 9 with a Game 3 win that cut the Pacers’ lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series to 2-1.
Much closer to full strength health-wise with the returns of Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter, the Cavs quickly regained their identity and now have a chance to even the series before it heads back to Cleveland for Game 5.
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Here are Game 4 predictions from Beacon Journal sports writers Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus (1) shoots the ball while Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) defends during Game 3 of a second-round playoff series May 9, 2025, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Cavs vs Pacers predictions: Who wins Game 4 tonight?
Lewis: Zooming out when looking at the series as a whole, the Cavs have largely looked like the better team other than an “other-worldly” Pacers shooting performance from 3-point range in Game 1 and then a fourth-quarter collapse by the Cavs in Game 2 when they had simply run out of gas because of the injury situation. And those situations certainly count for something but, at the same time, the Cavs when healthy have looked like the much stronger squad. Donovan Mitchell has been borderline incredible in this series, and now having Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley, All-Star point guard Darius Garland and De’Andre Hunter all back has completely revitalized the Cavs. The Pacers might have missed their shot to steal this series while the Cavs were beat up, because in Game 3 it was all systems go for Cleveland. Now healthy, the Cavs have the advantage. Cavaliers 116, Pacers 109
Ulrich: A doom-and-gloom feeling has been lifted from the Cavs because they returned to being the Cavs in Game 3. It’s more of a literal statement than a figurative one, with All-Star forward Evan Mobley, All-Star point guard Darius Garland and wing De’Andre Hunter returning from injury. Count this not-so psychic prognosticator among those who were surprised all three of them were able to make it back in time from Game 3. By the way, Mobley was spectacular. Everyone knows he’s the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, but he showed a different level of toughness by flourishing a few days after a sprained ankle had relegated him to a walking boot. Oh, yeah, Donovan Mitchell continued to dominate, too, producing a game-high 43 points after he had 48 in a heartbreaking Game 2 loss. With everything Mitchell has done so far in this series, imagining him hitting a game-winning shot and thereby returning the favor to Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton only seems right. Cavaliers 120, Pacers 118
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Cavs vs Indiana Pacers predictions for Game 4