This Tuesday, May 13, 2025, the Indiana Pacers sealed their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-105 in Game 5 of the semifinals. The game was played at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, in front of a home crowd that expected an epic comeback, but witnessed the end of a season that promised more.
Despite finishing as the best team in the East in the regular season with an impressive 64-18 record, the Cavaliers were unable to maintain their superiority in this series. Indiana Pacers, with a mix of young talent and experience, closed out the playoffs with a resounding 4-1 win.
Shining in the comeback
The game started favorably for Cleveland.
With Donovan Mitchell at the helm, they built a 12-point lead in the first quarter.
However, the story changed in the second half, when Tyrese Haliburton unleashed a devastating offense:
He scored three three-pointers in less than a minute, including one from half court.
The Indiana Pacers closed out the series with a resounding 4-1 victory
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Haliburton finished with 31 points and eight assists for Indiana Pacers.
Pascal Siakam added 21 units and eight rebounds, being key in the third quarter by converting the triple that gave them the definitive advantage.
Andrew Nembhard also stood out with 18 points.
Mitchell’s injury affected
Buzzy
Donovan Mitchell, who had started strongly, suffered a sprained ankle before halftime, which dampened his performance in the second half.
Although he returned briefly, he was no longer the same dominant player.
He finished with 35 points and nine rebounds, but it was not enough to avoid elimination.
The setback leaves the Cavaliers with many questions going forward, especially about Mitchell’s health and the team’s consistency at key moments.
Repeat presence in the Eastern Final
With this victory, the Indiana Pacers will play in the Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive year.
In 2024 they were swept 4-0 by the Boston Celtics, who were crowned NBA champions.
This time around, Indiana Pacers come in with more maturity, led by Haliburton and a more balanced team, ready to compete for a spot in the 2025 NBA Finals.
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