INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) 鈥� Donovan Mitchell paused while answering a question to adjust the wireless microphone pinned to the front of his wine-colored practice jersey. The All-Star guard wanted to make sure everyone could hear.
He joked his mom wants him to speak louder.
Mitchell needs to raise his volume 鈥� and his game. He's been too quiet lately.
As the Cavaliers prepared for a Game 5 on Tuesday night against the Orlando Magic that could be pivotal in ways beyond the outcome of this best-of-seven series, Mitchell made it clear he knows he's got to do more.
鈥淚t starts with me,鈥� he said.
While the series has been even, it's been anything but that for Mitchell.
He and 23 points, respectively, in Games 1 and 2 as the Cavs opened a 2-0 lead with home wins. But in Orlando, Mitchell wasn't the same and neither were the Cavs, who appeared lost in Central Florida.
Mitchell scored just 13 points in Game 3, when the Cavs were beaten 121-83 鈥� the worst playoff loss in their history. He started well in Game 4, scoring 18 while controlling the tempo in the first half as Cleveland opened a nine-point lead.
He had a determined look. At halftime, it disappeared.
Mitchell, who has been slowed by a bothersome left knee, went scoreless while attempting just four shots in the second half and the Cavs were outscored 37-10 in the third quarter as the Magic rolled to a 112-89 win.
After two days to analyze what went wrong, Mitchell said the solution is simple.
鈥淚 just can鈥檛 take four shots in that half,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 told you after Game 1, this is who I am. Fourteen shots and 16 shots in consecutive games 鈥� right, wrong or indifferent 鈥� speaks to the level of aggression. And I wasn鈥檛 that.
鈥淪o I hold myself accountable for that, and I鈥檒l be better.鈥�
Since Game 1, Mitchell is averaging 18 points on 20-of-52 shooting (38%), including an uncharacteristic 4 of 20 on 3s. He's got 20 assists, has made 15 turnovers and is being hounded by Orlando guard Jalen Suggs.
Mitchell has dismissed any notion that his knee is an issue. But he's clearly not himself.
Aside from the opener, he hasn't had his typical acceleration. That signature crossover, step-back 3-pointer 鈥� a move he springs to get separation in big moments 鈥� has been missing and it appears he's trying preserve himself.
鈥淚鈥檓 good,鈥� he said when asked about his health.
But is he 100 percent?
鈥淚鈥檓 good,鈥� he said.
The Cavs may need better than that from Mitchell to advance, and it's not a given that he can rise to that level.
Mitchell played in 11 of 29 games after the All-Star break 鈥� he also had surgery on a broken nose 鈥� due to the knee, which he aggravated stepping on Magic forward Paolo Banchero's foot early in Game 3.
There's no time for rest or overreaction, which is why Mitchell was exuding calm.
鈥淭he biggest thing is just continuing to stay level-headed throughout the process,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he past two games have been not what we wanted, but we have a chance to take care of business at home and that鈥檚 pretty much the only mindset.鈥�
For now.
Some time soon, the conversation around Mitchell will shift from the next game to the next season and beyond. He's eligible to sign a contract extension with Cleveland this summer, and his future could be tied to how the Cavs, who flamed out in the first round a year ago, finish this spring.
That's for another day, and why Mitchell said it was imperative for the Cavs to turn the page.
What happened in Orlando, stays in Orlando.
鈥淕ive them credit. Give us credit,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e did what we were supposed to do. So now it鈥檚 can we do it again? We will. That鈥檚 where we鈥檙e at. Otherwise, we鈥檙e going home, and we don鈥檛 want that to happen.
鈥淗andle business on Tuesday, and everything else will go from there.鈥�
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AP NBA:
Tom Withers, The Associated Press
