What happened
Donovan Mitchell finished a one-foot running dunk with 1:31 left in the second quarter, pulling Cleveland within 54-48. The bucket arrived during a stretch where the Cavaliers had been chasing the scoreboard for most of the period. It marked another aggressive rim attack from Mitchell, who has been the engine of Cleveland's half-court attack.
Why it matters
Mitchell's interior pressure matters because Cleveland has leaned on him to break stretches when outside shots have gone cold. Getting downhill instead of settling for jumpers is the version of Mitchell the Cavaliers need to stay competitive on the road to a closeout. The same Donovan Mitchell who entered this stretch locked in despite the series scoreboard is again carrying the offensive load.
What to watch
Watch whether Mitchell can keep attacking the paint as the second quarter closes and Cleveland looks to flip the deficit before halftime. His usage and shot location mix in the third quarter will signal how aggressively the Cavs intend to push the pace.