Haliburton Heroics Send Pacers Past Cavaliers and Into Eastern Conference Finals
Tyrese Haliburton delivered a postseason masterclass as the Indiana Pacers eliminated the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers with a 114-105 victory in Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Tuesday night. With this win, Indiana sealed a 4-1 series triumph and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second year running.
The Pacers guard was simply unplayable, scoring 31 points and nailing six three-pointers—five of them in a sizzling second-quarter stretch that completely flipped the game. Haliburton’s dazzling performance was backed by 21 points from Pascal Siakam, while Aaron Nesmith posted a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Andrew Nembhard added 18 points to complete a well-rounded team display.
“We’re talking about eight more wins for an NBA championship,” said head coach Rick Carlisle after the game. “The league is wide open. There are a lot of great teams, but it’s wide open. Our guys believe, and we’ve got a formula that works when we stay locked in.”
Cavs Start Fast, Pacers Hit Back
The Cavaliers had entered the game knowing their season was on the line, and they came out swinging in front of a raucous Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse crowd. Riding the energy of the home fans, Cleveland opened up a 19-point lead midway through the second quarter, looking every bit like the dominant 64-win team that topped the East during the regular season.
But then came the Haliburton show.
The All-Star guard drained five-of-five from beyond the arc in the second quarter alone, scoring 15 points in that span to drag Indiana back into the contest. What was once a commanding Cavaliers lead had suddenly shrunk to just four points at halftime, with the scoreboard reading 56-52.
“We knew they’d make a run, but we didn’t panic,” said Siakam. “Ty got hot, and the momentum completely changed.”
TYRESE HALIBURTON LEADS PACERS TO SECOND-STRAIGHT EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS BERTH
31 PTS
8 AST
6 REB
10-15 FGM
6-10 3PMThe @Pacers will face either the Celtics or the Knicks! pic.twitter.com/6qAL2wOtk4
— NBA (@NBA) May 14, 2025
Third-Quarter Surge Seals It
The third quarter belonged entirely to Indiana. With the Cavaliers on the back foot, the Pacers launched a 33-20 run to seize an 85-76 advantage heading into the fourth. Indiana’s pace, precision, and perimeter shooting proved too much for a Cavaliers side that struggled to regain their footing.
Cleveland attempted to mount a comeback in the final period behind Donovan Mitchell, who battled through a nagging ankle injury to score 16 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter. When Mitchell buried a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 98-97 with five minutes left, it seemed the hosts might stage one last surge.
But Indiana had all the answers. Their defense tightened, and they made key stops down the stretch. Cleveland’s cold shooting from deep—just 9-of-35 from beyond the arc—continued to haunt them, and their hopes faded as Haliburton and Co. held firm.
MYLES TURNER SEALS THE DEAL.
PACERS ADVANCE TO THEIR SECOND-STRAIGHT EASTERN CONFERNCE FINALS ‼️ pic.twitter.com/aeN0cysZJF
— NBA (@NBA) May 14, 2025
Cavaliers’ Dream Season Ends in Disappointment
Cleveland’s playoff run came to a screeching halt despite their impressive regular season. Head coach Kenny Atkinson didn’t sugarcoat his team’s shortcomings.
“They were the better team. They deserved to win,” Atkinson admitted. “We didn’t hit the level we were aiming for. It’s not a celebration—we’re disappointed. We made strides, sure, but now we need to figure out how to take that final step.”
Darius Garland led Cleveland in scoring with 22 points, while Evan Mobley added 14. But beyond Mitchell’s heroic effort, the Cavaliers lacked consistency and couldn’t match Indiana’s firepower or composure in the key moments.
The Cavaliers also struggled with ball control, committing 22 turnovers that led to 26 Pacers points. Their inability to protect the ball or hit outside shots proved to be a lethal combination against a red-hot Pacers unit.
Indiana’s Depth and Belief Shine Through
For Indiana, this victory wasn’t just about Haliburton’s brilliance. It was a complete team effort. The Pacers had seven players score in double figures, and their bench provided valuable minutes to maintain pressure throughout the game.
Carlisle praised the collective mindset and chemistry of his roster.
“This is a group that’s stayed together all year, through the highs and the lows,” he said. “They’ve bought into the system, they trust each other, and they’ve stepped up when it matters.”
With the win, Indiana now awaits the winner of the series between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks. The Knicks currently hold a 3-1 lead and could punch their ticket to the conference finals with a win on Wednesday night.
Whether it’s Boston or New York, the Pacers are ready. And with Haliburton playing like a man on a mission, they’ll fancy their chances against anyone.
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