“We've seen it done before” — Darius Garland drops motivational statement before Game 5 vs Indiana Pacers

With the Cleveland Cavaliers on the edge of Eastern Conference Semifinals , their point guard Darius Garland is trying to rally his team by preaching resilience. Down 3-1 playing against Indiana Pacers , Garland takes cue from Cavaliers’ historic 2016 comeback. With the team getting ready for Game 5 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, nothing is more important than the leadership and the belief of a turnaround of Garland. With Donovan Mitchell 's status being up in the air due to an ankle, Garland’s position only becomes that much more vital in this must-win situation.

Darius Garland channels 2016 Cavaliers spirit ahead of Game 5 showdownIn the face of adversity, Darius Garland is invoking the Cleveland Cavaliers' storied past to inspire a present-day comeback. "This franchise has done it before," Garland stated, referencing the team's legendary 2016 Finals rally against the Golden State Warriors. "We’ve seen it done before. This group is always competing at a high level. It doesn’t matter what circumstance it is. So, go out there with a chip on our shoulder and a lot of desperation. That’s what we have to do. We’ve got to keep that in our mind and see where that goes."

Garland's confidence is backed by his performance. Despite a toe injury, he has returned to contribute significantly, scoring 21 points and providing six assists in Game 4. Throughout the 2024-25 regular season, Garland averaged 20.6 points, 6.7 assists, and shot 47.2% from the field, including 40.1% from beyond the arc.

The Cavaliers' challenge is compounded by Donovan Mitchell's uncertain status. Mitchell aggravated a left ankle injury in Game 4 and is listed as questionable for Game 5. He participated in the team's shootaround on Tuesday morning, and his status will be a game-time decision.

Game 5 is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. The Cavaliers, who finished the regular season with a 64-18 record, are looking to avoid elimination and force a Game 6 back in Indiana.

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At this crucial turning point in their playoff campaign, the support provided by the Darius Garland’s leadership, and faith in himself and the team to prevail over a crisis, are key to the Cleveland Cavaliers' hopes. With the possible absence of Donovan Mitchell, Garland’s game and motivational presence can be the spark that the Cavaliers need to extend the series and keep their championship dream a dream.