Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson dismissed the idea that a halftime speech fueled the team’s dramatic comeback in Game 4. “It was a halftime speech, of course. Absolutely not,” he said after Donovan Mitchell’s record-tying second-half explosion lifted the Cavaliers past the Detroit Pistons 112-103 on Monday night.
Instead, Atkinson pointed to a straightforward tactical change: “We had to play with more pace. We were getting the ball up too slowly, and they were setting their defense. That was the main message at halftime—get the ball up quicker.”
That adjustment unlocked Mitchell, who erupted for 39 of his 43 points after the break, matching an NBA playoff record. Atkinson explained, “Donovan started to get into the open court. That’s when he’s at his best. In the half court, they’re physical, grabbing, holding—they don’t let you move.”
The Cavaliers turned a 56-52 halftime deficit into a runaway victory with a stunning 24-0 run that began in the final seconds of the second quarter and carried into the third. Atkinson described Mitchell’s performance as “incredible,” noting, “He had four points at the end of the first half and finished with 43.”
Atkinson also heaped praise on Evan Mobley for his defensive impact. “He was phenomenal. He was blocking everything, getting steals, clogging the lane—that was a Defensive Player of the Year performance,” the coach said. “He was everywhere tonight, and he did it with great discipline.” Mobley finished with 17 points, five blocks, and three steals, drawing further praise from Atkinson: “We should give a lot of credit to Evan Mobley for tonight. And his offensive game is improving.”
Better ball movement and spacing also played a role. “I think we’re screening better. Screening is important,” Atkinson said. “Our spacing—we figured some things out. And we’re moving off the ball again.”
When asked about the evolving partnership between Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, Atkinson noted, “They communicate well. They rarely disagree. They’re basically on the same page.”
Atkinson also reveled in the energy at Rocket Arena, calling it “by far the best I’ve seen in Cleveland” and “up there with the best crowds I’ve ever seen.” With the series tied 2-2, he added, “It’s a different story now. We obviously gained some confidence with these two wins.”
