In a win-or-go-home Game 5, the Cleveland Cavaliers faced a crushing reality: when it mattered most, their stars couldn’t deliver. Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, and Max Strus — three key pieces of Cleveland’s offensive engine — combined for a staggering 38 missed field goals, a performance that will likely haunt them and the Cavs fanbase all offseason.
From the very start, it was clear the Cavaliers were struggling to find their rhythm. The intensity of the moment seemed to press down on their shoulders, and their shots reflected the pressure. Open looks rimmed out. Step-backs clanged. Even layups and transition attempts rolled off the iron. The ball simply refused to drop.
Donovan Mitchell, often the heartbeat of Cleveland’s offense, looked off from tip-off. He fought for his shots and worked to get to his spots, but nothing came easy. Defenders crowded him, and his legs looked heavy. He finished the night with just 6-of-24 shooting from the field. That’s 18 missed shots from the Cavs’ franchise player when they needed him most.
Darius Garland didn’t fare much better. As the team’s point guard and secondary scorer, he was expected to step up, especially with Mitchell clearly laboring. But Garland couldn’t find a rhythm, going 4-for-17 on the night. His typical shifty, creative playmaking was replaced by indecision and rushed attempts. The floor spacing was off, and his misses only added to the mounting frustration.
Then came Max Strus, brought in for his shooting and big-game experience. The Cavaliers hoped his perimeter presence would stretch the defense and provide much-needed spacing. But on this night, Strus went ice cold — 2-for-9 from the field, with nearly every attempt drawing a collective groan from the home crowd.
Altogether, the trio missed 38 shots — a number that tells the story of the game without needing much context. Despite solid performances from Cleveland’s role players and a defense that held strong for three quarters, the lack of offensive production from the team’s top scorers proved insurmountable.
It wasn’t just that they missed — it was how and when they missed. Clutch moments turned into forced isolation plays. Open threes bricked in momentum-shifting sequences. And as the opposing team pulled away in the fourth quarter, the Cavs looked mentally and physically drained, without a consistent shot-maker to turn to.
The Cavaliers entered this postseason with high hopes, believing their young core could take the next step. But this loss, marked by poor execution and cold shooting from their stars, raises difficult questions about their future. Can Mitchell and Garland coexist as a backcourt? Is this team built to win in the playoffs?
Tonight, with the season hanging in the balance, the Cavs needed greatness. Instead, they got 38 missed shots.
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4o
