Pacers Outlast Cavaliers to Reach Back-to-Back Eastern Conference Finals
The Indiana Pacers are heading back to the Eastern Conference Finals, riding a wave of resilience and momentum. Behind Tyrese Haliburton’s 31 points and Pascal Siakam’s steady 21-point performance, the Pacers closed out the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-105 in Game 5 on Tuesday night.
Coach Rick Carlisle praised his team’s grit, summing it up: “The winning team writes the script.” Despite facing double-digit deficits early — including a 19-point hole — Indiana’s relentless pace wore Cleveland down.
Haliburton’s five second-quarter three-pointers sparked the comeback, helping Indiana cut the Cavs’ lead to four by halftime. A dominant third quarter sealed it, with a 17-2 Pacers run flipping momentum permanently.
Donovan Mitchell fought valiantly for Cleveland, finishing with 35 points despite a nagging ankle injury, but cold shooting doomed the Cavs. They hit just 25.7% from beyond the arc and struggled under Indiana’s pressure.
The Pacers, now the first team seeded fourth or lower to make back-to-back conference finals since 1984, await the winner of the Boston Celtics–New York Knicks series. After sweeping three road games at Cleveland’s Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Indiana looks primed for another deep playoff push — fueled by heart, speed, and a bit of history.
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