The Indiana Pacers sealed the series in Game 5. After another comeback against the Cavaliers, Rick Carlisle’s team advances to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second year in a row – and for the first time in ten years.
With a 114-105 away win in Game 5, the Indiana Pacers knocked the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers out of the playoffs and secured their place in the Eastern Conference Finals. As in the first two games, Indiana came back from behind at halftime to win the series 4-1.
Cleveland started strongly, leading by 19 points at one stage in the first half and 44-25 with eight minutes to go before the break. But the Pacers remained calm, cut the deficit to 56-52 at halftime with a strong run and finally took control in the third quarter. With a 17-2 run, Indiana took a double-digit lead for the first time and entered the final quarter with an 85-76 advantage.
The Cavaliers fought back once again to avoid defeat: Donovan Mitchell brought his team to 106-103 with a three-pointer with 1:27 remaining, but the Pacers kept their nerve and won the final minutes 8-2.
Haliburton shines – Cavs duo fails to convert
Tyrese Haliburton was the top scorer for Indiana with 31 points, while Pascal Siakam contributed 21 points. On the other side, Mitchell scored 35 points after his ankle injury, but the poor shooting of the Cavs duo Mitchell/Garland (12/41 FG, 4/19 3P) weighed heavily in the end. Cleveland shot just 38.9 percent from the field and lost all three home games in the series – a first for the franchise.
The Pacers are in the Conference Finals for the first time in consecutive seasons since 2013/14 and have won three away games in a playoff series for the first time since 2005. Their opponents in the next round will be either Boston or New York.
