The Indiana Pacers are moving forward to the Eastern Conference finals after a significant 114-105 Game 5 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night. The victory delivered a dramatic turnaround as Indiana overcame a 19-point deficit in the first half of their road game.
With the substantial 4-1 lead win, the fourth-seeded Pacers advanced past the semifinal round for the first time in a decade. Now, they are all set to face their next opponent in their crucial final-round campaign.
Tyrese Haliburton, being the reliable one for the Pacers’ depth, led them with 31 points, including five critical three-pointers in the second quarter, which was the key source of the Pacers’ success.
“We didn’t panic after that rough start to the first quarter. We talked about how we knew they would throw a haymaker there. But I thought we weathered the storm the right way and got going from there,” Haliburton said after the game. (via- KGET)
Who Will The Indiana Pacers Face In The Eastern Conference Finals?
Indiana’s next rivalry will be the winner between the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks. The series stands at 3-1, where the Knicks hold the upper hand. In Game 5 at Boston, if the Knicks manage to close out the series, the Pacers will prepare for a battle with the second-seeded Knicks. However, Boston could bounce back with their strong and compelling performances, which will stretch the series into further games.
The Pacers bring high-level stakes after taking three straight games on their road, indicating their first-time achievement since a 2005 first-round series against Boston. “We were not favored in one game. The lowest point spread was 5½. That was something that fueled our guys, too,” head coach Rick Carlisle stated, showing pride for his team’s delivery (via- KGET).
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While the Cavaliers made a 44-25 lead early in the second quarter, the Pacers’ relentless efforts outscored them 33-20 in the third quarter and sealed a commanding 85-76 lead as the fourth quarter finished.
Now, the pacers will get a short break before jumping into their next high-stakes battles. Whether it’s the defensive toughness of the Knicks or the star-studded Celtics, the Pacers have the potential to give a head-to-head challenge in every situation.
