Pacers Shock Cavaliers in Game 1 of Eastern Conference Playoffs

CLEVELAND, OH — The Indiana Pacers shocked the Cleveland Cavaliers 121-112 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series on Sunday at Rocket Arena.

The Pacers’ performance sent a clear message: this series would not mirror the Cavaliers’ easy first-round sweep of the Miami Heat. Star guard Tyrese Haliburton led the charge, scoring 22 points and adding 13 assists, establishing Indiana’s dominance in the matchup.

A key moment came when Cavs forward De’Andre Hunter collided with Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin during a layup attempt. Mathurin pushed off Hunter, who fell hard and appeared to injure his wrist. Despite Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson challenging the no-call, Mathurin remained on the court. Hunter later returned to the game, a promising sign for Cleveland ahead of Game 2.

After the game, Atkinson expressed his frustration over the physical play, stating, “It doesn’t make sense that players can be that physical when the ball is released.” He acknowledged that the Pacers played better, attributing the loss to their performance rather than the officiating.

Indiana’s impressive outside shooting was pivotal, as they made 19 of 36 three-point attempts. In contrast, the Cavaliers struggled from beyond the arc, hitting only 9 of 38 attempts. Andrew Nembhard topped Indiana’s scoring with 23 points.

Cleveland now faces a critical Game 2 on Tuesday, hoping to even the series. The team is contending with injuries to key players, including Darius Garland and Evan Mobley. Garland’s absence would significantly impact Cleveland’s offensive strategy.

As for Haliburton, he is set to play in Game 2, despite lingering lower-body injury concerns. His fully healthy status could spell trouble for the Cavaliers as they attempt to halt the Pacers’ momentum.