Fast-Paced Pacers Snatch Game 1 in Cleveland

Cleveland, OH - Rocket Arena

The Cleveland Cavaliers returned to a sold-out Rocket Arena to face the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, six days after sweeping the Miami Heat on the road. The Pacers, having recently defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in five games, were looking to steal a win on the road. The last time these two teams faced off was in Game 82 of the regular season—a game the Pacers won. However, Jarrett Allen was the only regular Cavaliers starter who played, logging just one minute of game time.

Still without Darius Garland, the Cavaliers started slow, scoring just 25 points in the first quarter—6.2 points below their season average of 31.2. The Pacers, meanwhile, came out red-hot, shooting 14-of-21 from the field, including 6-of-9 from beyond the arc. They led 36–25 after one. In the second quarter, the Cavs attempted to chip away at the lead but couldn’t cut it to fewer than five points until De’Andre Hunter hit a three-pointer with 4:03 left, bringing it to a four-point game. The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half, and Indiana entered the break with a 64–58 advantage.

In the third quarter, crisp ball movement and solid defense allowed the Pacers to extend their lead to 12. Still, the Cavaliers battled back. A put-back hook shot by Evan Mobley gave Cleveland its first lead since early in the first quarter, 85–84. Donovan Mitchell led the charge with 12 points in the third, supported by eight from Jarrett Allen. However, Myles Turner drained a three-pointer at the buzzer to give Indiana a 92–90 lead heading into the fourth.

The fourth quarter opened with physical play and momentum swings, with both teams tied at 101 five minutes in. Max Strus briefly gave Cleveland a one-point lead, but the Pacers quickly responded. Tyrese Haliburton hit a step-back three, followed by a deep triple from Andrew Nembhard to push the lead to five. Coach Kenny Atkinson called a timeout with 3:23 remaining, as the game began to slip away for Cleveland. Indiana came out of the break and stretched the lead to eight before regaining possession. A charge drawn by Strus gave the Cavs a chance, but his three-point attempt was blocked. Soon after, the Cavaliers found themselves trailing in a playoff series for the first time this season. Despite 13 lead changes, Indiana dominated down the stretch, outscoring Cleveland 29–22 in the final frame to take Game 1, 121–112.

The Pacers' fast-paced style of basketball was on full display. Six players scored in double figures, led by Nembhard’s 23 points. Haliburton added 22, Nesmith and Siakam chipped in 17 each, Turner scored 13, and Mathurin added 11 off the bench. Cleveland struggled to adjust to Indiana’s tempo, especially in Garland’s absence. The five-day layoff may have contributed to their sluggish start. Poor shooting also plagued the Cavaliers: 45-of-98 from the field (45.9%), 9-of-38 from three (23.7%), and 13-of-18 from the line (72.2%). Mitchell finished with 33 points but shot inefficiently, going 13-of-30 from the field (43.3%) and just 1-of-11 from three (9.1%).

Coach Kenny Atkinson's Post-Game Interview

Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley's Post-Game Interview

As Mitchell said, it's only one game and it is hard to go 16-0 in the playoffs. Yes that is true, but the Cavs have got to clean things up if they want to make a run at a championship. They have got to learn and grow from a night like this, as they cannot afford another showing like this in this series. The series remains in Cleveland for a pivotal Game 2, scheduled for Tuesday, May 6, with tip-off set for 7:00 PM ET.