The Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers enter Sunday's Game 4 with starkly different mindsets. Despite holding a series advantage, the Pacers face mounting pressure after a humbling 126-104 Game 3 defeat. Meanwhile, a resurgent Cavaliers squad — finally at full strength with the returns of Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and De'Andre Hunter — now eyes a chance to rewrite the narrative on Indiana's home court.

Three Game-Changers to Watch

1. Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers)
   The four-time All-Star has been unstoppable, dropping 41 points per game this series. His 43-point Game 3 explosion — fueled by relentless drives to the basket (14.7 free throw attempts per game) — exposed Indiana's defensive vulnerabilities. Cleveland lives by Mitchell's late-game heroics, and another masterclass could swing momentum decisively.

2. Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers)
   Indiana's floor general faces a critical bounce-back moment. His playoff-worst 4-point outing in Game 3 disrupted the Pacers' offensive rhythm, which thrives when he facilitates (team is 7-2 this postseason when he logs 10+ assists). Haliburton's ability to penetrate Cleveland's defense will dictate whether Indiana regains control.

3. Evan Mobley (Cavaliers)
   Cleveland's defensive anchor made an immediate impact in his return, holding the Pacers to 44% shooting in Game 3 compared to 51% in Games 1-2. His 18-point, 13-rebound double-double while patrolling the paint gives the Cavaliers a dimension they sorely missed earlier in the series.

Tactical Chess Match
Cleveland's defensive adjustments stole the spotlight in Game 3. By deploying a 2-3 zone anchored by Mobley and Jarrett Allen, they clogged passing lanes and forced 13 turnovers — a stark contrast to Indiana's league-best regular-season ball security. To counter, the Pacers must either punish smaller defenders in the post or rediscover their three-point touch (shot just 32% from deep in Game 3).

Offensively, the Cavaliers' resurgence ties directly to Darius Garland's return. His playmaking alleviates pressure on Mitchell, creating cleaner looks in transition — an area where Cleveland outscored Indiana 22-9 in Game 3 after being dominated in fast breaks during the first two games.

Stakes & Historical Context
History looms large for both teams. The Pacers have never lost a best-of-seven series when leading 2-0 (8-0 franchise record), but another loss would erase their hard-earned advantage. For Cleveland, avoiding a 3-1 deficit is crucial — no team has overcome that margin against Indiana in 25 years.

Final Outlook
While the Pacers' high-octane offense remains dangerous, Cleveland's defensive identity resurfaced at the perfect time. Mitchell's scoring brilliance combined with Mobley's rim protection gives the Cavaliers a narrow edge in what promises to be a physical, possession-by-possession battle. Expect Cleveland to even the series before heading home for Game 5.

Prediction: Cavaliers 118-113 Pacers