The Indiana Pacers closed the regular season with a stunning 126-118 double overtime comeback win over the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night.
Down by 23 points with just over seven minutes left in regulation, Indiana used a 32-9 run to force overtime and eventually seal its 50th win of the season.
Quenton Jackson led the charge with 21 points, while RayJ Dennis scored all seven of his points in the second overtime, including a dagger three-pointer to put the Pacers ahead 118-111.
Tony Bradley added 14 points and gave Indiana its first lead since the first quarter with a hook shot at the 4:41 mark in double OT.
Despite missing six rotation players, including Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, Indiana (50-32) locked up the No. 4 seed in the East and reached the 50-win mark for the first time since 2013-14.
Cleveland (64-18), already locked into the top playoff seed, rested nine rotation players and dropped its third straight to end the regular season.
Jaylon Tyson posted a career-best 31 points for the Cavaliers, who led by as many as 27 in the third quarter and were ahead 96-73 before the collapse.
Nae’Qwan Tomlin had 24 points and 12 rebounds in his first NBA start, while Emoni Bates added 25 points off the bench on 7-of-15 shooting from three.
Jarrett Allen was the only regular starter to play for Cleveland, logging just 41 seconds, but completing a full 82-game season for the first time in his career.
Indiana won three of four against Cleveland in the regular-season series, with a potential playoff rematch looming in the second round.
Johnny Furphy chipped in with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Tony Bradley and Enrique Freeman combined for 22 boards to help Indiana win the rebounding battle 61-65.
The Cavaliers shot just 38.3% from the field and hit only 12 of their 22 free throws, while Indiana overcame 10-of-42 shooting from deep by converting 90.9% at the line.
The Pacers closed the season on an 8-2 run and will host Game 1 of their first-round playoff series later this week.
