On Saturday, April 26, Donovan Mitchell played a key role in helping the Cleveland Cavaliers notch their third consecutive win over the Miami Heat. With that victory, Kenny Atkinson’s squad is now one win away from clinching a spot in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
After the win, Mitchell shifted his focus to another major sports story in Cleveland. With the 144th pick in the NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns selected Shedeur Sanders, a move that marked the end of one of the most discussed storylines of the draft. Sanders, who had once been projected as a potential first-round pick, was chosen much later.
As one of Cleveland’s biggest sports figures, Mitchell took it upon himself to welcome the rookie with a short message on social media: “Welcome to the Land,” he posted on X.
Both the Cavaliers and the Browns now boast depth at the primary ball-handler position. Atkinson has Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Ty Jerome to work with, while Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has rookie quarterbacks Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, along with Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett.
Cleveland will be watching closely to see if Sanders can make an impact over the coming years. However, for now, the spotlight is firmly on the Cavaliers as they push toward a potential Eastern Conference Finals berth.
Cavaliers’ Mitchell Praises Miami Heat
A verbal back-and-forth between Garland and Tyler Herro has added an unexpected layer to Cleveland’s first-round series with Miami. Both players have exchanged barbs about each other’s defensive shortcomings. However, after Cleveland’s latest win, Donovan Mitchell chose to downplay the trash talk and give credit to Miami’s team.
“The biggest thing is we understood who we were playing,” Mitchell said. “Regardless of whether words were exchanged or not, this is a very talented group, a talented organization, and a talented head coach. Internally, we know what’s coming and what this group brings. We respect them.”
Mitchell had a tough outing against Miami, scoring just 13 points with one assist. He shot 4-of-14 from the field and only got to the free-throw line five times. Cleveland will need more from him in Game 4 if they hope to complete the sweep.
After the game, Tyler Herro responded to the Cavaliers’ dominance. The former Sixth Man of the Year doesn’t expect Miami to go down quietly. He’s confident that the Heat will rally to fight back in the series.
“We wanted to be here,” Herro said. “It’s not time to let go of the rope. We’re going to play until the final buzzer…That’s who we are as an organization. We want to compete and we’re not going out 4-0.”
While Cleveland is the stronger team, more talented and playing an effective style of basketball, Miami will be fighting hard to avoid a sweep. Whether the Cavaliers win in four or five games, they’re on track for the second round.
For Sanders, this coming week will be a chance to experience the intensity and passion Cleveland fans bring. If the Cavaliers continue their successful run, that excitement could hit new heights in the months ahead.