Pacers Secure Eastern Conference Finals Spot with Victory Over Cavaliers

The Indiana Pacers are advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals once again.

Tyrese Haliburton spearheaded a late-game surge as the Pacers secured a 114-105 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena in Game 5 on Tuesday night. This triumph clinched a 4-1 series win for the Pacers, securing their spot in the finals for the second year in a row.

The victory also resulted in an early exit for Cleveland, the Eastern Conference’s top seed. The Cavaliers had a stellar start to the season with a 15-game winning streak and concluded with 64 wins, marking the second-best season in franchise history. However, they haven’t reached the NBA Finals since 2018, at the end of the LeBron James era.

Pacers Rally from a 19-Point Deficit

The Cavaliers erupted with energy on Tuesday, building a 12-point advantage by the end of the first quarter, fueled by Donovan Mitchell’s 13 points. This lead was established despite the Cavaliers missing their first five three-point attempts.

However, the Pacers quickly found their rhythm after trailing by as much as 19 points, flipping the game before halftime. They went on an impressive 27-9 run, closing the gap to just four points by the break. Haliburton nailed three consecutive three-pointers in under a minute, one of which was launched just inside the Cleveland halfcourt logo.

By halftime, Haliburton had amassed 17 points with five three-pointers, all scored in the second quarter. Donovan Mitchell contributed 16 points for the Cavaliers but struggled from the field, hitting just 3-of-11 and going 0-for-5 on threes.

Despite a shaky start to the third quarter that prompted coach Rick Carlisle to call a quick timeout, the Pacers regained the lead following a Pascal Siakam three-pointer. This capped an 11-0 run in less than two minutes.

The Cavaliers’ offense faltered for much of the quarter, compounded by Mitchell leaving the floor with an ankle issue five minutes in. Having exited Game 4 early due to a similar injury, Mitchell appeared to be in increasing discomfort as the period progressed.

By the end of the third, the Pacers had stretched their lead to nine points, dominating with a 31-13 run. The Cavaliers’ shooting woes continued, hitting only 7-of-24 shots and enduring a seven-minute scoring drought. Mitchell returned and quickly made an and-one, but the damage was done.

Although the Cavaliers mounted a quick 10-2 run to narrow the gap to one point, that was their peak. Haliburton’s dunk in response helped stabilize Indiana. The Pacers countered every Cavaliers’ attempt, including consecutive threes from Mitchell, and a crucial drive in the final minute positioned them for victory. Andrew Nembhard’s and-one after a short field goal extended their buffer, allowing them to coast to a nine-point win.

Mitchell concluded with 35 points and nine rebounds for Cleveland. Evan Mobley added 24 points and 11 rebounds, while De’Andre Hunter scored 12 off the bench. The Cavaliers struggled from beyond the arc, shooting 9-of-35, and missed four consecutive free throws to end the game.

Haliburton led the Pacers with 31 points and eight assists, making 10-of-15 shots, including six three-pointers. Pascal Siakam recorded 21 points and eight rebounds, and Nembhard finished with 18 points.

The Pacers now await the victor of the New York Knicks-Boston Celtics matchup. The Knicks lead the series 3-1, with Game 5 slated for Wednesday night, after Celtics’ star Jayson Tatum suffered an Achilles injury. A victory for the Knicks would mark their first conference finals appearance since 1999.

Though they still have a significant challenge ahead, Haliburton and the Pacers are just four wins away from their first NBA Finals appearance in 25 years.