Pacers Eliminate Top-Seed Cavs, Reach Eastern Conference Finals

The Indiana Pacers defeated the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 114-105 in Game 5 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second straight year, overcoming a 19-point deficit in the first half. Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 31 points, including a perfect 5-of-5 from three-point range in the second quarter, while Pascal Siakam contributed 21 points. Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell scored 35 points despite a sprained ankle, but his team struggled, shooting poorly in the third quarter and losing three home games in a postseason series for the first time. Indiana's strong second-half performance, including a decisive 29-8 run in the third quarter, secured the victory, while injuries to Cleveland's key players, including Mitchell and Darius Garland, hampered their chances. The Pacers will face the winner of the Boston Celtics-New York Knicks series, with New York leading 3-1. Haliburton expressed his enjoyment of basketball despite external criticism, emphasizing his love for the game and the Pacers organization.