The Indiana Pacers delivered their most dominant performance of the postseason on Sunday, overwhelming the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 129-109 to seize a 3-1 advantage in their first-round playoff series.
Indiana tied an NBA playoff record by building a 41-point halftime lead, taking full control of a chippy, high-intensity Game 4 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 21 points on 9-of-10 shooting, while Myles Turner and Obi Toppin each added 20 in a wire-to-wire victory.
The Pacers, seeded fourth, can close out the series Tuesday in Cleveland, where they’ve already taken Games 1 and 2.
Indiana jumped out with runs of 11-2 and 13-0, turning an early lead into a 48-23 advantage midway through the second quarter.
A 19-2 run closed the half, capped by Aaron Nesmith’s buzzer-beating jumper, giving Indiana an 80-39 edge that matched the largest halftime lead in league playoff history.
The home team’s momentum never wavered despite the early ejection of Bennedict Mathurin for a Flagrant 2 foul less than eight minutes into the game.
Donovan Mitchell, who scored 12 points in 20 minutes, did not return for the second half after injuring his left ankle; head coach Kenny Atkinson said Mitchell will undergo an MRI on Monday.
Darius Garland paced Cleveland with 21 points and six assists, but the Cavaliers had no answers on either end, allowing Indiana to shoot 52.7% from the field and hit 15 three-pointers.
Turner finished a perfect 4-of-4 from beyond the arc and added seven rebounds, while Tyrese Haliburton rebounded from a poor Game 3 with 11 points and five assists.
Indiana recorded 37 assists on 49 made baskets and committed only 10 turnovers.
Despite a strong fourth quarter from Cleveland’s bench, including 11 points from rookie Jaylon Tyson, the outcome had long been decided.
The loss puts Cleveland, which posted the best record in the East at 64-18, on the brink of a first-round exit unless it can rally at home in Game 5.
Indiana’s bench outscored Cleveland’s 68-57, with T.J. McConnell contributing 13 points and eight assists in just 18 minutes.
Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday night at Rocket Arena.
