The Indiana Pacers secured a spot in the Eastern Conference finals for the second consecutive year after a remarkable 114-105 victory over the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers. Tyrese Haliburton’s 31 points and Pascal Siakam’s 21 points were instrumental in eliminating the Cavaliers in five games. Despite Donovan Mitchell’s impressive 35-point performance for Cleveland, it wasn’t enough to overcome the Pacers’ resilience.

The Pacers, seeded fourth, now await the winner of the series between the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks, with the Knicks holding a 3-1 lead. Last year, the Celtics swept the Pacers in the East finals, setting the stage for a potential rematch.

Indiana staged a remarkable comeback after trailing by 19 points in the first half, ultimately dominating the game and winning all three matchups at Cleveland’s Rocket Arena. This victory marked the first time since 2005 that the Pacers won three road games in a playoff series, while the Cavaliers suffered their first-ever three home game losses in a postseason series.

Critical to the Pacers’ success was their strong performance in the third quarter, shooting 14 of 22 from the field and going on a 17-2 run that ultimately secured a 12-point lead. Despite a late surge from Cleveland, Indiana maintained composure and closed out the game decisively with an 8-2 run in the final minutes.

The Pacers’ impressive display of resilience, teamwork, and clutch performances propelled them to a well-deserved victory and a spot in the highly anticipated Eastern Conference finals.