The No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers trail the No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers 0-2 after suffering loses in each of their first two second-round playoff matchups at Rocket Arena.
The Cavaliers were undermanned in Game 2 with injury absences for Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and DeAndre Hunter. Despite an outstanding 48-point performance from Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland ultimately fell with a 120-119 final score following a game-winning three pointer from Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton.
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While the Cavaliers are in a tough spot, Mitchell received a special honor on Thursday.
Mitchell was named a member of the Professional Basketball Writers Association’s All-Interview First Team, recognizing players who are “consistently thoughtful, insightful and engaging with the media.”
Mitchell is featured on the first team alongside Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Draymond Green.
The Cavaliers reacted to this announcement with a post on social media.
“The PBWA has just announced that @cavs guard @spidadmitchell has been named to the inaugural @NBA All-Interview Team (First Team), which honors players who are consistently thoughtful, insightful and engaging with the media. #LetEmKnow,” the Cavaliers official PR account wrote on X.
“It’s tough. That’s what the playoffs are,” Mitchell said after Tuesday night’s Game 2 loss. “Now we’ve got two days to get ready for Friday… We can sit here and dwell on this and be home in four or five days, or we can move on and take some things we did really well and go from there. I have no doubt everyone in that locker room is ready for Friday.
Jan 3, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson speaks with Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images© Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
“It sucks. It stings. But we’ve got to go out there and take care of business. Otherwise, that’s it.”
Mitchell and the Cavaliers will tipoff against the home-team Pacers at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday.