The Cleveland Cavaliers find themselves on the brink of elimination after falling 3–1 in their NBA Eastern Conference series against the Indiana Pacers. Sunday’s Game 4 in Indianapolis was another showcase of the Pacers’ balanced attack and defensive pressure, which overwhelmed the Cavs despite another strong effort from Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, who is confident in a comeback and thinks they can repeat the feat that LeBron James achieved in the franchise.
But this time, the spotlight shifted—at least briefly—to Darius Garland. After an encouraging performance in Game 4, Garland met with reporters postgame, his toe still recovering from injury but his resolve unwavering. “This franchise has been down 3–1 before,” Garland said. “This group can do it. We’ve got the talent, we’ve got the skill set. The camaraderie is always there. We just have to go out and play our brand of basketball—tough, physical, and together.”
Garland missed the early part of the series due to injury, but he returned with a renewed sense of urgency and leadership. Following Game 3, he spoke from the locker room about his motivation: “I just want to be out there for my guys,” he said. “Everyone’s been playing through injuries, putting their bodies on the line. We’re still fighting. I just want to do whatever I can to help us win this series.”
Cleveland now faces a near-impossible task—overcoming a 3–1 deficit against a red-hot Pacers team that has flipped the narrative after Cleveland’s dominant regular season.
Darius Garland #10 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts during the first quarter of the game against the New York Knicks
Drawing Inspiration from History
Garland’s reference to a 3–1 comeback evokes one of the most iconic moments in sports history: the Cavaliers’ miraculous comeback in the 2016 NBA Finals, led by none other than LeBron James.
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That year, Cleveland trailed 3–1 to a record-setting 73–win Golden State Warriors team loaded with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. But LeBron’s heroic NBA performance—back-to-back 41-point games in Games 5 and 6, and a triple-double in Game 7—became the stuff of legend.
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Kyrie Irving hit the series-defining shot over Curry in the final minute of Game 7, while LeBron delivered the iconic chase-down block on Andre Iguodala—a symbol of Cleveland’s relentless will.
Another key turning point came when Green was suspended for Game 5, disrupting the Warriors’ rhythm and giving the Cavs new life. From there, Cleveland’s defense locked in, their stars delivered, and the franchise claimed its first-ever NBA championship.
It was a perfect storm of talent, resilience, and timing—one Garland hopes this current group can somehow replicate. The task ahead is daunting, but Cleveland has seen the impossible before. Now, they’ll try to do it again.
