Tyrese Haliburton buried a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining as the Indiana Pacers closed Game 2 on an 8-0 run to stun the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 120-119 on Tuesday night.
The Pacers now lead the Eastern Conference semifinals 2-0, becoming the first Indiana team to win the first two games of a playoff series on the road since 1994.
Haliburton scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter and once again delivered in the clutch, just as he did against Milwaukee in the previous round.
Indiana trailed 119-112 with 1:06 left after Max Strus knocked down a three-pointer, but Cleveland’s late-game miscues opened the door for the visitors.
Andrew Nembhard’s steal with 27.5 seconds to play gave Indiana another chance, and Haliburton was fouled moments later on a drive.
He made the first free throw but missed the second, chased down his own rebound, and stepped into a game-winning triple from the top of the key.
Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 48 points for Cleveland but was once again left without enough help, as injuries to Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, and De’Andre Hunter thinned out the Cavaliers’ rotation.
Myles Turner and Aaron Nesmith paced Indiana with 23 points each, while Bennedict Mathurin added 19 off the bench.
The Cavaliers led 98-81 late in the third quarter, powered by Mitchell’s 15-point outburst in the period, but Indiana responded with a 17-6 run to claw back.
Despite shooting 43.3% from the field and 28.2% from beyond the arc, Cleveland appeared to have the game in hand before falling apart in the final minute.
Turnovers by Strus and Mitchell, along with crucial offensive rebounds by the Pacers, extended possessions and allowed Indiana to stay alive.
Haliburton had 22 points in Game 1 and has now delivered decisive fourth-quarter plays in three straight postseason games.
Nembhard dished out 13 assists and grabbed seven rebounds, while Turner pulled down eight boards and was a +15 in 35 minutes.
Strus finished with 23 points for the Cavaliers and Jarrett Allen contributed 22 and 12 rebounds, but the loss marked Cleveland’s first 0-2 playoff start at home since 1996.
The Pacers shot 51.8% from the floor and held a 28-24 assist advantage, converting 11 of 28 from deep and grabbing 11 offensive rebounds.
Game 3 is set for Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, where Indiana will try to move one win away from the Eastern Conference Finals.
