Pacers Reach Consecutive Eastern Conference Finals

The Indiana Pacers advanced to their second consecutive Eastern Conference Finals by defeating the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 114-105 in Game 5, overcoming a 19-point deficit with a dominant second half led by Tyrese Haliburton's 31 points and eight assists. All Pacers starters scored in double figures, with Pascal Siakam adding 21 points, and Indiana won all three games on Cleveland’s home court for the first time since 2005. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 35 points while playing through injuries, but Cleveland struggled from three-point range and could not retake the lead after Indiana's decisive third-quarter run. The Pacers now await the winner of the New York Knicks-Boston Celtics series, with the Knicks up 3-1. This marks back-to-back East Finals appearances for Indiana, who lost to Boston last year. The NBA playoffs have seen strong betting interest, and Indiana is now considered a key contender for the Finals.