The Pacers beat the Cavaliers again with a total score of 4-1 and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. Mitchell's 35 points could not save the game.
2025-05-14 04:32
, the Indiana Pacers defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-105 on the road, successfully eliminated their opponents with a total score of 4-1, and entered the Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive year. Although the Cavaliers' star player Donovan Mitchell returned from injury and scored a game-high 35 points, he still couldn't prevent the team from being eliminated.
This game was a life-and-death battle for the Cavaliers, who fielded a starting lineup of Mitchell, Garland, Mobley, Allen and Strus, trying their best to defend their home court. The Pacers maintained a stable lineup, with Haliburton, Nembhard, Nesmith, Siakam and Turner playing together.
At the start of the game, the Cavaliers quickly got into the game, relying on the support of the home crowd and Mitchell's outburst to gain the upper hand. Mitchell was active in the first quarter, scoring frequently through breakthroughs and fouls, helping the team maintain the lead in the first half. At the end of the half, the Cavaliers still led by a slight advantage.
But after entering the second half, the situation on the court suddenly changed. The third quarter became the turning point of the game. Driven by Haliburton, the Pacers played an efficient offensive rhythm. Haliburton not only had a hot hand from the outside, making 6 of 10 three-pointers , but also made many passes to his teammates to assist in scoring, quickly turning the situation around. At the end of the third quarter, the Pacers played a small climax, overtook the score, and gradually widened the gap in the fourth quarter. In the end, the Pacers secured the victory with a 9-point advantage away from home and advanced to the next round.
Throughout the game, Haliburton was in excellent form, scoring 31 points , 6 rebounds and 8 assists, showing the dominance of the team's core. In addition to Haliburton, as many as 5 Pacers scored in double digits, showing the advantage of team basketball. Siakam, Turner and others all had stable output and made great contributions to the team's advancement.
For the Cavaliers, Mitchell was undoubtedly the most eye-catching player. Although his knee injury had not yet healed, he still tried his best to play, and finally made 8 of 25 shots , 4 of 13 three-pointers , and 15 of 21 free throws , scoring 35 points and 9 rebounds, but he was alone and could not save the team from the dire situation. The performance of Garland, Allen and others did not meet expectations, and the overall offensive efficiency was low, which became an important reason for the team's defeat.
With the defeat in this round, the Cavaliers officially bid farewell to this season. The Pacers will face the winner between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics are currently leading 3-1 and have a favorable situation for advancement, but the core player Jayson Tatum was injured and was ruled out for the season, adding more suspense to the series.
For the Pacers, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for two consecutive years has proven their growth and stability. Under the leadership of Haliburton, the team is gradually getting on the right track. They will be well rested and ready to face more difficult challenges.
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