- Indiana Pacers eliminated top-seeded Cleveland with a 114-105 road win, taking the series 4-1
- Tyrese Haliburton scored 31 points, and Pascal Siakam added 21 to lead Indiana to the Eastern Conference Finals
- The Pacers became the first team in NBA history to reach consecutive conference finals as a fourth seed or lower
Key Takeaways:
Indiana Pacers secured a stunning 114-105 away victory over top-seeded Cleveland, closing out their Eastern Conference semifinal series with a 4-1 win. The Pacers will now compete in the Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive year, where they will face either Boston or New York.
Tyrese Haliburton was the driving force behind Indiana’s success, scoring 31 points, while Pascal Siakam added 21. On the other side, Donovan Mitchell, who was a game-time decision due to an injury, managed 35 points, and Evan Mobley contributed 24 points and 11 rebounds for Cleveland.
BACK-TO-BACK EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS. pic.twitter.com/BEcMzxcqRc
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 14, 2025
Indiana’s victory is historic, as they became the first team in NBA history to reach consecutive conference finals despite being seeded fourth or lower. Last year, the Pacers entered the playoffs as the sixth seed, while this year, they overcame the top-seeded Cavaliers.
The game did not start well for the visitors, who quickly found themselves trailing by 19 points in the first half. Cleveland led 44-25 with eight minutes remaining before halftime. However, Indiana managed to cut the gap to just four points by the break, setting the stage for a remarkable comeback.
In the third quarter, the Pacers took control with a 17-2 run, building an 85-76 lead heading into the final period. Cleveland tried to fight back, with Mitchell missing three free throws but quickly scoring to make it 103-106.
Indiana responded with a clutch and-one play from Andrew Nembhard and two free throws by Haliburton. After Mobley scored again, Myles Turner sealed the victory with a three-pointer just 23 seconds before the final buzzer.