12-05-2025
Dan Gilbert Channeling Massive Comeback With LeBron James as Fuel for Pacers Series Deficit
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The Cleveland Cavaliers are not in an ideal spot. They are currently down 3-1 in their series against the Indiana Pacers after an embarrassing Game 4 loss on the road.
So far, the No. 4 seed Pacers have proven to be the more physical, tougher and deeper team, which explains why they are one win away from yet another Eastern Conference Finals appearance. The Cavaliers are in a world of trouble, and Tuesday night could be their final game for the season.
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The Cavaliers proved to be an elite team all season long as they were at the top of many team categories. That has not been the case at all in this series. Nonetheless, the Cavaliers and their owner, Dan Gilbert, are confident in their ability to come back down 3-1 in the series.
In doing so, they're drawing inspiration from their historic 2016 Finals rally, a comeback famously led by future Hall of Famer LeBron James. Following Sunday's game, team owner Dan Gilbert took to social media to rally support and express belief in another potential turnaround.
LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers recieves his championship ring from owner Dan Gilbert before the game against the New York Knicks at Quicken Loans Arena on October 25, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio....
LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers recieves his championship ring from owner Dan Gilbert before the game against the New York Knicks at Quicken Loans Arena on October 25, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. More
Photo by"Hey @cavs fans... yes it was an ugly one, but we've been here before. Time to get 3 in a row, 2 of them coming at home. Let's start with Game 5 on Tuesday. #Believeland," wrote Gilbert.
Hey @cavs fans… yes it was an ugly one, but we've been here before. Time to get 3 in a row, 2 of them coming at home. Let's start with Game 5 on Tuesday. #Believeland — Dan Gilbert (@cavsdan) May 12, 2025
While Cavaliers fans will be rocking and jumping, ready to extend the series, they may be without their superstar guard Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell suffered an ankle injury in Game 4 and missed the entire second half. His status for Game 5 is unclear, but the expectation is he will try to give it up in this do-or-die contest for Cleveland.
In the history of the NBA, only 13 teams have come back from a 3-1 deficit. The most recent team to do so was the 2020 Denver Nuggets in the second round of the playoffs against the Los Angeles Clippers.
The 2016 Cavaliers are also one of those 13 teams, and they did so on the biggest stage in the NBA Finals against the 73-9 Golden State Warriors. The Cavaliers are hanging on by a thread, and they hope that getting some inspiration from that series will help them pull off a miracle and then some.
Game 5 is set for Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET.
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