The Cavaliers didn’t just respond - they roared.
After days of talk about urgency, hunger, and playing with purpose, Cleveland finally delivered the kind of performance that turns locker room frustration into on-court dominance. The Cavs walked into Gainbridge Fieldhouse and handled business like a team that remembered exactly who it’s supposed to be.
The 135-119 win over the Pacers wasn’t just a bounce-back - it was a statement. And honestly, the final score doesn’t even capture how thoroughly Cleveland controlled the night.
This wasn’t about catching a break with Indiana missing Tyrese Haliburton. This was about Cleveland showing up shorthanded themselves - without Darius Garland, Max Strus, Jarrett Allen, Sam Merrill, Larry Nance Jr., and Lonzo Ball - and still dictating every bit of the action from the opening tip.
One lead change. One tie. Forty-eight minutes of total control.
It started with Jaylon Tyson, who’s been vocal lately about the team’s lack of hunger - and then went out and played like a man starving. Tyson poured in 27 points on an ultra-efficient 10-of-13 shooting, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.
He added 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and brought a physical intensity the Cavs have been missing. Loose balls?
He wanted them more. Contact?
He welcomed it. It was the kind of performance that doesn’t just fill up a box score - it sets a tone.
And then there was Donovan Mitchell, doing what elite players do: closing the door every time the Pacers tried to crack it open. Mitchell dropped 43 points in just 34 minutes, and every Indiana run was met with a cold-blooded answer.
When the Pacers trimmed the lead to six late in the third quarter, Mitchell came out in the fourth and immediately hit them with a personal 5-0 run. Just like that, the momentum was gone - and so were the Pacers’ chances.
What made this win even more impressive was how complete it was. This wasn’t a night where the bench had to save the starters or a sloppy stretch needed a late-game rescue.
This was Cleveland, wire to wire, playing with purpose and precision. No sagging.
No slipping. Just a team that looked like it was done hearing about what it isn’t and ready to remind everyone what it can be.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson hinted before the game that he could feel the frustration bubbling in the group - and that he liked it. To him, it meant they were close to turning a corner. Turns out, he was right.
Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter each chipped in 13 points, while rookie Tyrese Proctor added 12. But this one wasn’t about any single stat line. It was about effort, execution, and a team finally playing with the urgency it’s been preaching.
The Pacers, now 4-17, were led by Pascal Siakam’s 26 points and Andrew Nembhard’s 21. But they were chasing this game from the opening minutes and never really found their footing.
For Cleveland, now 13-9, this was more than just a win. It was a response - and a reminder.
The talk from Sunday? It wasn’t just noise.
It was a spark. And if they can keep playing with this kind of edge, this Cavs team might just be ready to turn that corner for good.