The Indiana Pacers secured a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive year with a 114-105 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. This achievement marks their second consecutive appearance in the conference finals, a feat that no team has accomplished since seeding began in 1984 as a four seed or worse.
Path to Victory
Indiana’s journey to the conference finals was challenging:
- They trailed by as many as 19 points in the first half.
- The Pacers managed to rally and take control after halftime.
- They won all three games at Cleveland’s Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, including this decisive matchup.
Key Performers
- Tyrese Haliburton led the charge with 31 points.
- Pascal Siakam contributed 21 points.
Their efforts were crucial in overcoming a strong start by Cleveland, which had a 44-25 lead with eight minutes remaining in the second quarter.
Turning Point
Despite trailing by nine at halftime, Indiana refused to give up:
- They got within two points twice before taking control after intermission.
- A surge of four straight baskets from reserve guard Bennedict Mathurin and back-to-back layups from Jalen Smith proved pivotal in securing their victory.
Player Reflections
Haliburton praised his teammates for their focus during tough moments throughout the series against the top-seeded Cavaliers, stating, "I was proud of my teammates for staying focused during tough moments throughout the series against No.1 seeded Cavs."
Siakam echoed Haliburton’s sentiments when reflecting on their achievement, saying, "We knew we could do this."
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