NBA 2024-25: Cleveland Cavaliers Passed 'Test Against Ourselves' In Miami Heat Sweep, Says Donovan Mitchell

Donovan Mitchell believes the Cleveland Cavaliers passed a "test against ourselves" in their series sweep against the Miami Heat. (More Sports News)

Mitchell led the way in Cleveland's Game 4 blowout against the Heat on Monday, scoring 22 points in 25 minutes in a 138-83 rout.

The top-seeded Cavs were without All-Star point guard Darius Garland for a second consecutive game because of a sprained toe, but had six players score in double figures. 

Ty Jerome had 18 points, Evan Mobley added 17 and Jarrett Allen had 14 points, 12 rebounds and six steals for the Cavaliers.

Cleveland won the series by a combined 122 points, one more than the previous record for series margin set by Denver over New Orleans in 2009.

Indeed, the combined 92 points that the Cavaliers바카라 웹사이트won by in Games 3 and 4 is the largest point differential in a two-game span in playoff history.바카라 웹사이트

They were leading by 39 points at half-time, the third-largest advantage after two quarters in NBA history, with Mitchell sending a simple message to his team-mates at the break.바카라 웹사이트

"We had to finish our breakfast," the바카라 웹사이트Cleveland Cavaliers바카라 웹사이트star guard said.

Mitchell added바카라 웹사이트the바카라 웹사이트Cavs were motivated to end the series to earn extra rest ahead of facing바카라 웹사이트potential second-round opponent바카라 웹사이트Indiana Pacers, who are ahead 3-1 in their바카라 웹사이트series with the바카라 웹사이트Milwaukee Bucks.

Last season, Cleveland led바카라 웹사이트2-0 in their series against the바카라 웹사이트Orlando Magic바카라 웹사이트before dropping Games 3 and 4 in Florida, leading to a tiring seven-game series that affected them in a second-round loss to the바카라 웹사이트Boston Celtics.

"Last year, we only won one road [playoff] game. We've only won one road playoff game since I've been here until this year," said Mitchell.

"And for us just never being satisfied, it's really a test on ourselves. Understanding that, yeah, we were up 3-0, but this was our test against ourselves.

"We have a bigger goal in mind. For us, it's understanding that this is special. We've been doing special things all year.

"But we didn't come here just to sweep in the first round and get to the second."

Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson applauded his team's mentality, saying:바카라 웹사이트"We don't seem to have letdowns. That's rare.

"We came down here with the right mentality and, again, our maturity, our leadership, all that stuff we've been talking about all year."