Pacers Lead Cavaliers 2-0 in Eastern Conference Semifinals

The Indiana Pacers stunned the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers by winning the first two games of their Eastern Conference semifinal series, highlighted by Tyrese Haliburton’s clutch performances. In Game 1, Haliburton scored 22 points and dished out 13 assists, while Andrew Nembhard contributed a career-high 23 points, helping Indiana to a 121-112 victory despite Donovan Mitchell’s 33 points for Cleveland. The Pacers maintained their momentum in Game 2, overcoming a 48-point effort from Mitchell and scoring the final eight points to claim a dramatic 120-119 win, with Haliburton hitting a game-winning three-pointer in the final seconds. Indiana’s success has shifted perceptions, earning them broader respect and demonstrating their resilience and depth, especially with multiple players scoring in double figures and overcoming Cleveland’s home-court advantage. The Cavaliers struggled without key starters due to injuries, which contributed to their back-to-back losses. The Pacers' surprising performance has established them as a formidable contender in the playoffs, overturning expectations that pegged them as underdogs.