Tyrese Haliburton delivered a statement performance in Cleveland as the Indiana Pacers took down the top-seeded Cavaliers 121-112 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Sunday night.
The All-Star guard totaled 22 points, 13 assists, and a critical fourth-quarter block that sparked a game-changing run for the fourth-seeded Pacers.
Haliburton’s go-ahead three-pointer with just over six minutes remaining flipped a one-point deficit into momentum Indiana never relinquished.
That shot began a 15-4 spurt, during which Andrew Nembhard drained two triples and the visitors gained full control.
Nembhard led Indiana with 23 points on 7-for-10 shooting, including 5-of-6 from deep.
The Pacers, who ranked among the NBA’s best in pace and efficiency this season, shot 52.8% from three-point range (19-for-36) and 53.0% overall from the field.
Despite a 33-point effort from Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland couldn’t overcome its own offensive struggles.
The Cavaliers, who finished second in the league in made threes during the regular season, connected on just 9 of 38 attempts (23.7%), their second-worst mark of the year.
Evan Mobley added 20 points and 10 rebounds, but the Cavaliers missed injured guard Darius Garland for a third straight playoff contest.
Indiana’s balanced attack featured double-digit scoring from all five starters.
Pascal Siakam and Aaron Nesmith each scored 17, with Nesmith also contributing four threes and eight rebounds.
Myles Turner added 13 points and 11 boards, while Haliburton’s playmaking generated 34 points off assists, including setups on eight three-pointers.
The Pacers built a 12-point cushion in the third quarter, but the Cavaliers briefly surged ahead in the final period on a Max Strus free throw.
Haliburton’s quick response from deep halted the home team’s momentum, and his blocked shot on Strus moments later directly led to a transition layup.
Ty Jerome gave Cleveland a boost off the bench with 21 points, but it wasn’t enough to counter Indiana’s offensive rhythm.
The Cavaliers entered the series after a dominant sweep of the Miami Heat, including a 55-point blowout in Game 4.
Game 2 will be held in Cleveland, where the top seed will attempt to regroup and avoid falling into an 0-2 hole.
