Pacers Pull Off Game 1 Victory Over Cavaliers in Playoffs

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.

The Indiana Pacers defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 118-107 on Sunday night, stealing Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

From the start, Indiana relied on transition offense to create open shots. The Pacers shot 53% from the field, making 44 of their 83 attempts, and were particularly lethal from beyond the arc. They finished shooting 52.8% from three-point range, hitting 19 of 36, compared to Cleveland’s nine made threes. This gave Indiana a 30-point advantage from deep.

Six Pacers scored in double figures, with Andrew Nembhard leading the team with 23 points and six assists, including five made three-pointers. Tyrese Haliburton also had a strong performance, adding 22 points and a game-high 13 assists. Indiana held a six-point lead at halftime.

The Cavaliers faced a 12-point deficit midway through the third quarter but rallied with a 20-4 run fueled by Donovan Mitchell’s 12 points in the period. Mitchell ultimately led the Cavaliers with 33 points, four assists, and five rebounds, although he struggled with his three-point shooting, making just one of 11 attempts.

In the final moments of the game, the Pacers responded with a 15-4 run to secure an eight-point lead with less than two minutes remaining.

Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday in Cleveland at 7 p.m. ET, broadcast on TNT.