Pacers Eliminate Cavaliers 4-1, Set Up Conference Finals Showdown

The Pacers' dominant performance eliminated the Cavaliers, setting up a potential matchup with the Knicks or Celtics in the conference finals.

The Indiana Pacers eliminated the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA playoffs, winning the series 4-1. Tyrese Haliburton led the charge with 31 points, including six three-pointers, as the Pacers came from behind to win 114-105 in Game 5.

The Cavaliers' promising season ended in disappointment on their home court, as they were unable to overcome the Pacers' strong performance. Haliburton's scoring outburst helped seal the win and send the Cavaliers packing.

Tyrese Haliburton's 31-point performance was complemented by strong contributions from his teammates. Pascal Siakam added 21 points, Aaron Nesmith chipped in with 13 points and 13 rebounds, and Andrew Nembhard scored 18 points.

Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle expressed optimism after guiding his team to the Eastern Conference finals for the second consecutive year, saying, “We're talking about eight more wins for an NBA championship.”

The Cleveland Cavaliers seemed poised to extend the series after dominating the first half, surging to a 19-point lead midway through the second quarter at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse wasn't mentioned but rather “Rocket Arena” which matches the name ”Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse” isn't far from, the home arena for the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, Tyrese Haliburton ignited a dramatic shift, draining five consecutive three-pointers in the second quarter to cut Cleveland's lead to just four points by halftime, with the scoreboard reading 56-52 in favor of the Cavaliers.

'CERS IN FIVE.#PacersWin pic.twitter.com/IkOgrtlfSk

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 14, 2025

Haliburton's hot streak in the second quarter, where he scored 15 of his 17 points, including 5-for-6 from beyond the arc, propelled the Pacers to outscore Cleveland 33-25 in the period. This impressive performance set the stage for Indiana's eventual 114-105 victory, eliminating Cleveland from the playoffs. Pascal Siakam, Aaron Nesmith, and Andrew Nembhard also contributed significantly to Indiana's scoring efforts.

“The league is wide open this year. There are a lot of great teams but it's wide open. We've just gotta keep believing. We've got a great group of guys who have committed to one another.

“We have a formula that works for us when we are really steadfast about sticking to it.”

Pacers Pull Away

The Pacers' momentum carried into the third quarter, where they outscored Cleveland 33-20, building a 9-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. Despite Donovan Mitchell's 16 points in the final frame, the Cavaliers' efforts were hindered by his visibly sore left ankle.

A late surge from the Cavaliers saw Donovan Mitchell hit a three-pointer, cutting the deficit to one point at 98-97 with just over five minutes left. However, Cleveland's struggles from beyond the arc continued, making only 9 of 35 three-point attempts, and the Pacers' defense ultimately shut down the Cavaliers' comeback bid.

Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson reflected on his team's disappointing playoff exit, which followed a successful 64-win regular season. “They were the better team, they deserved it and they played great,” Atkinson said. “But the truth of the matter is we didn't get to the level we wanted to get to.”

“We're not pleased with that. We're not celebrating the season. But I do think we made strides. We took a jump - and now we've got to figure out this last piece, and how to get over this hump.

“We had some misfortune with injuries, but I still felt like we had enough. It's disappointing.”

The Indiana Pacers are set to face either the Boston Celtics or the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals. Currently, the Knicks hold a 3-1 lead over the Celtics and can secure their spot in the conference finals with a win on Wednesday.

If the Knicks win, they'll set up an exciting matchup against the Pacers, adding another chapter to their rivalry. The winner of this series will advance to the NBA Finals next month. The conference finals are scheduled to start on May 20-21, with Game 1 tipping off on May 21.