Donovan Mitchell was cooking all series like Gordon Ramsay on a caffeine high — 33, 48, 43 points in Games 1 through 3 — but then suddenly, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ playoff stove went cold. Like, “left-a-frozen-pizza-in-an-Ohio-basement” cold. And in true Cavs fashion, the season that was once dripping with Eastern Conference Finals hopes just fizzled out like a LaCroix left open overnight.

On Sunday in Game 4, Mitchell came out looking human. Twelve points on 3-of-11 shooting? That’s not Spida — that’s a mosquito with a sprained wing. The Cavs were trailing by 41  at halftime to the Indiana Pacers. You know things are ugly when you’re down worse than a crypto investor in 2022.

Then came the real gut punch: Mitchell didn’t even return for the second half. TNT reported it as an ankle injury. Coach Kenny Atkinson pulled the classic “I have no clue what’s happening” move postgame: “No idea. See what the MRI says.” That’s the basketball version of your dentist saying, “Eh, we’ll check on that root canal next time.” Spoiler: it’s never good.

Let’s be honest — Mitchell was the Cavs’ playoff run. Dude was dragging the team harder than a PS5 fan trying to run GTA I. He dropped 48 in Game 2 like it was light work, and his 43-point explosion in Game 3 was basically a solo mixtape that went platinum while the rest of the squad was lip-syncing.

In the regular season, Mitchell averaged 24 points per game, leading the Cavaliers to a beastly 64-18 record. That’s East-leading, baby. First place. The big dogs. And yet, without him at full strength, the Cavs looked more like Golden Retrievers in Game 5 — loyal but totally confused on defense.

On Tuesday, with Cleveland needing a win to stay alive, Mitchell came in as questionable, but fans hoped he’d tough it out. And he did start…until the third quarter, when he limped off to the locker room like a Marvel character who just realized they’re not in the next sequel.

No more Donovan. No more playoff run. Just De’Andre Hunter and Ty Jerome trying to keep it together. That’s like trying to patch a sinking ship with a pool noodle and some duct tape.

Let’s give the Pacers their flowers — and maybe some flamethrowers because they were ON FIRE. Tyrese Haliburton channeled his inner Chef Curry and cooked up 31 points on 10-of-15 shooting with SIX threes like he was trying to hit his MyPlayer shooting badge goals.

Andrew Nembhard, the man whose name sounds like a fancy chess move, dropped 18 points on 63% shooting. Pascal Siakam and Aaron Nesmith chipped in a combined 34, while Myles Turner held it down with blocks, rebounds, and grown-man energy.

Indiana finished Game 5 with 50% shooting overall, 42.9% from deep, and the type of team effort that makes you wonder, “Were the Cavs even invited to this playoff party?”

Cavs Offense: Now Featuring a Disappearing Act

Let’s break it down: Max Strus? 0-of-9 from the field. Cold like a Cleveland winter. Garland? Shot 25% from the floor and 0-of-6 from three. His jumper fell off like the WiFi in a haunted house. Mobley and Mitchell were the only signs of life. Mitchell somehow still put up 35 points with 15-of-21 free throws. That man was dragging his leg like a pirate and still led the team in scoring.

And yet, it wasn’t enough. Cleveland shot a measly 38.9% from the field and 25.7% from deep. That’s not just cold — that’s Arctic. That’s “leftovers in the freezer since 2021” levels of cold.

For the second straight year, the Cavs’ dreams of a deep playoff run died in the second round. Last year it was a little more respectable. This year? It’s like they faceplanted into a birthday cake — embarrassing and messy.

Mitchell’s MRI will tell us how bad the ankle really is. But whether it’s a minor sprain or something worse, the Cavaliers now have all summer to ice it. Because the Pacers just packed them up like leftovers after Thanksgiving dinner.

Donovan Mitchell gave everything. The dude limped, sprinted, hoisted bricks, got fouled 21 times, and still led the squad. He deserves rest, rehab, and maybe a team that doesn’t collapse like a Jenga tower when he’s not around.

Now, it’s on to the offseason. But one thing’s clear: if Donovan Mitchell was healthy, this series might have looked a whole lot different. The Pacers? Solid. But the Cavs without Mitchell? Just a bunch of guys hooping like it’s open gym.

Come back soon, Spida. Cleveland’s not the same without you.