The Indiana Pacers trailed the Cleveland Cavaliers by 20 at one level throughout Sport 2 of their matchup within the second spherical of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. The Cavs had already dropped Sport 1 and had been taking part in with out injured stars Darius Garland and Evan Mobley (in addition to key reserve De’Andre Hunter). This was set to be a win that saved Cleveland’s season and possibly purchased them just a little time to get wholesome.
The Pacers stored chipping away within the fourth quarter, but it surely appeared like they had been going to expire of time. When Donovan Mitchell sank a pair of free throws with below 57 seconds left within the fourth quarter, Cleveland led by seven. Appears safe sufficient, proper? Not towards Indiana.
The Pacers shocked the Cavs 120-119 in one other second spherical thriller. An evening after Aaron Gordon’s dagger shocked the Thunder, Tyrese Haliburton responded with a second equally nice to raise his workforce to an unattainable win.
The Cavs had been up three inbounding the ball with 27 seconds left. Andrew Nembhard stole a nasty cross by Max Strus, and the Pacers had been off the opposite approach. Haliburton obtained the ball, drove the basket, and compelled the refs to name a foul. He made the primary free throw to chop the deficit to 2 with 12 seconds left.
Then issues obtained wild: Haliburton missed the second free throw, recovered his personal offensive rebound, and dribbled the ball out to the highest of the important thing earlier than ripping a nasty step-back jumper to provide Indiana the win. Watch the play right here:
Haliburton was named probably the most overrated participant by his friends in a ballot by The Athletic just a few weeks in the past. Now he has his Pacers on the verge of consecutive journeys to the Japanese Convention Finals after stealing the primary two video games of the second spherical in Cleveland.
Haliburton completed with 19 factors, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and nil turnovers within the win on 7-of-11 capturing from the sphere. Indiana’s livid comeback was made doable by the bodily two-way play of Aaron Nesmith (23 factors, three blocks) and Myles Turner (23 factors, 5 blocks). The Pacers had been sloppy with the ball all night time (18 turnovers), obtained beat on the offensive glass, and shot six fewer free throws, however someway clawed their approach again to tear out Cleveland’s coronary heart on the buzzer.
Donovan Mitchell was sensational with 48 factors. The Cavs had been the most effective workforce within the East all yr, however the second spherical couldn’t be going worse for them. Garland has missed each video games of this sequence with a sprained toe, Mobley is now out with a sprained ankle, and instantly they’re down 0-2 heading to Indiana.
It’s a disgrace Cleveland’s dream season may finish this manner. Simply know Indiana took it from them.
