The Indiana Pacers achieved a significant milestone by eliminating the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the playoffs, securing their spot in the Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive year. That achievement is a historic victory! Indiana has pulled off the unprecedented feat of being the first team since the NBA began seeding in 1984 to make the conference finals in back-to-back seasons as a four seed or worse.
In an exciting match up last night at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, the Pacers rallied from an early 19-point deficit. The Cavaliers surged ahead to a commanding 44-25 lead with 8:10 remaining in the second quarter. Indiana came storming back, showing grit and poise in equal measures. Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 35 points, while Evan Mobley contributed significantly with 24 points and 11 rebounds, but it was not enough to secure a victory.
The third quarter proved pivotal for the Pacers as they executed a remarkable 17-2 run over five minutes that shifted the momentum of the game. Down the stretch over this critical four-minute span, eight points from Pascal Siakam were matched with five of Tyrese Haliburton’s own points. Indiana doused UGA’s hopes with an explosive, game-determining third quarter. They took a huge 12-point lead with 2:29 left in the third quarter after an amazing 29-8 stretch.
Despite Cleveland’s efforts to close the gap, including a critical three-pointer from Mitchell that brought the score to 106-103 with just 1:27 remaining, Indiana finished strong. The Pacers sealed the win by outscoring Brooklyn eight to two in the game’s closing three minutes. Their experience and poise under pressure were palpable on full display.
The series this playoff victory is no small matter, either — it’s the first playoff series victory in Pacers’ franchise history. For the first time since their 2005 first-round matchup against Boston, they’ve done it — winning three road games in a playoff series! The fourth-seeded Pacers will now await the outcome of the ongoing series between the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks, where New York currently holds a 3-1 advantage. Game 5 will be played Thursday night in Boston.
Cleveland’s journey faced additional challenges, as Donovan Mitchell missed the second half of Sunday’s game due to a sprained left ankle, which may have contributed to their inability to maintain their early lead.
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