Incandescent fitness

A new level

Game 2 between the Pacers and Cavaliers told a story that matters for every team this offseason. Donovan Mitchell, one of the best players in the world, said that late in the game he “couldn’t move” because he was so exhausted. The Cavaliers lost by one point. JASON MILLER/GETTY IMAGES

The Cleveland Cavaliers rolled the Heat in the first round of the 2025 playoffs, outscoring them by 122 over the four-game sweep. It’s like Cleveland did five games’ worth of scoring in four games.

That, and winning 64 of 82 regular season games, earned the Cavs a second-round date against the team with the worst record of the four East teams remaining: the Indiana Pacers.

The Cavaliers lost Game 1 to the Pacers at home in a fluke. Not even Michael Jordan’s Bulls won every game. Indiana isn’t the best shooting team in the world, but that night they made a stupid 19 of 36 3-point…