The pacers vs cavaliers clash on Sunday night delivered playoff fireworks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, where the Indiana Pacers held off a fierce Cleveland comeback to claim a 121-112 win in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinals. Indiana’s victory not only handed the Cavs their first playoff loss of the season—after sweeping Miami—but also shifted home-court advantage to the sixth-seeded Pacers.
Andrew Nembhard set the tone with 23 points and six assists, drilling five of his six 3-point attempts, while Tyrese Haliburton recorded 22 points and 13 rebounds. All five starters reached double figures, and Indiana shot over 52% from both the field and beyond the arc.
Pacers vs Cavaliers: Momentum Swings in a High-Scoring Duel
Indiana surged ahead early in the third quarter, building a 12-point cushion after taking a narrow halftime lead. Yet, Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell answered emphatically—pouring in 12 of his 33 points in the third and fueling a 17-4 run to cut the deficit to two. The Cavs seemed poised to seize control, but Myles Turner’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the period reclaimed momentum for the Pacers.
Cleveland’s offense sputtered in the fourth as Indiana executed a decisive 13-2 spurt sparked by back-to-back triples from Nembhard. Outside of Mitchell—who added five rebounds and four assists but went just 1-for-11 from deep—the Cavs managed only two field goals in the final eight minutes until Ty Jerome connected on an inconsequential 3-pointer in garbage time.
Key Performances and Statistical Highlights
- Andrew Nembhard (PAC): 23 points, 6 assists, 5-for-6 3P
- Tyrese Haliburton (PAC): 22 points, 13 rebounds
- Donovan Mitchell (CLE): 33 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists; NBA-record eighth straight Game 1 with 30+ points
- Evan Mobley (CLE): 21 points, 10 rebounds
- Ty Jerome (CLE): 21 points off the bench
- Team Shooting: Pacers 52% FG, 52% 3P; Cavaliers 9-for-38 3P
Cleveland also contended without All-Star guard Darius Garland, who missed his third straight game with a swollen, sprained left toe that shows no structural damage but significant pain.
Nembhard and Haliburton Deliver Late-Game Control
In the decisive moments, Indiana’s backcourt duo took charge. Nembhard’s cold-blooded triples and Haliburton’s rebounding dominance snuffed out any Cavs resurgence. Their ability to execute under pressure underscored Cleveland’s inability to respond, despite multiple efforts in the second half.
What’s Next: Game 2 Preview
The series shifts to Cleveland for Game 2 on Tuesday night. If the Cavaliers can’t rebound quickly, even their best season in over a decade risks an abrupt end. Indiana, buoyed by a stunning road win, will look to continue its upset bid, while Cleveland Cavaliers must tighten their rotation, especially with Garland’s availability in question.
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