Pacers Defeat Cavaliers in Thrilling NBA Playoff Matchup

The Indiana Pacers stunned the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers with a 121-112 win in Game 1 of their NBA playoff series.

Game Recap

The Indiana Pacers stunned the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, winning 121-112 on Sunday and taking a 1-0 lead in their NBA playoff series. The Pacers' strong performance was fueled by six players scoring in double figures, including Andrew Nembhard's team-high 23 points, courtesy of five three-pointers.

Key Player Performances

• Tyrese Haliburton: scored 22 points and dished out 13 assists, showcasing his exceptional all-around skills.
• Donovan Mitchell: led the Cavaliers with 33 points but shot inefficiently, making only 13 of 30 field goal attempts.
• Andrew Nembhard: made five three-pointers, contributing significantly to the Pacers' 19 three-pointers made in the game.

The series now shifts to Game 2, scheduled for Tuesday, May 6, at 7 p.m. ET on TNT, with the Cavaliers looking to even the series 

“I thought we did a great job of starting the game the right way,” said Tyrese Haliburton after delivering the game-winning shot in Indiana's 119-118 overtime triumph over Cleveland.

Pascal Siakam scored 10 of his 17 points in the first quarter, helping Indiana take a 36-25 lead. Despite 33 points from Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell and 17 turnovers that led to 22 points for the Cavs, the Pacers secured the win.

Halftime Lead and Momentum Shift

The Indiana Pacers led 64-58 at halftime and had extended their advantage to 12 points before the Cleveland Cavaliers mounted a comeback. Evan Mobley's hook shot with 3:16 left in the third quarter gave Cleveland their first lead since the first quarter, putting them up 85-84.

Decisive Fourth Quarter

Despite Mobley's 20 points and 10 rebounds, the Cavaliers struggled without injured point guard Darius Garland. Indiana seized the opportunity, responding with a 15-4 scoring run in the fourth quarter to pull away and secure the win.

“We weathered the storm,” Haliburton said. “I mean, they're the number one team in the conference. They've got an unbelievable crowd. So they got into it and were willing their way back into the game. We just had to find a way to grow the lead.”

took Game 1 in Cleveland 😤#PacersWin pic.twitter.com/bzYQfOYdza

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 5, 2025

“We did it by getting stops, getting out running and just playing Pacers basketball,” highlighting the team's effective defensive strategy and fast-paced offense that contributed to their win.

The Houston Rockets face a do-or-die Game 7 against the Golden State Warriors, seeking to become the 14th team to come back from a 3-1 deficit. While the Warriors have experience with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green having played in five Game 7s each, the Rockets boast a mix of veteran playoff experience and youthful confidence.

Fred VanVleet, Steven Adams, and Dillon Brooks bring playoff savvy, while Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and Jalen Green provide youthful energy. Sengun, 22, believes there's no reason the Rockets can't win one more game, having already pulled off back-to-back victories.

“I don't think they've beaten us this series," he said. “We beat ourselves, missing free throws and easy shots. When we're locked in, we're locked in. We have all the talent in the world. There's no reason for us to lose this game.”