Thrilling Finish: Tyrese Haliburton Leads Pacers Past Cavaliers to Secure Spot in Eastern Conference Finals!

The Indiana Pacers are back in the Eastern Conference Finals! They clinched their spot by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-105 in Game 5. This victory wrapped up their series 4-1 and marked their second consecutive trip to the conference finals.

Cleveland had a solid run this season, winning 64 games, the second most in their history. It’s a tough blow for them as they haven’t reached the NBA Finals since 2018, a period marked by LeBron James’s departure.

The game started tough for the Pacers; they fell behind by 19 points thanks to a quick start from Donovan Mitchell of the Cavs. Yet, the Pacers flipped the script with an impressive run of 27-9, narrowing the gap before halftime. Haliburton was on fire, nailing three 3-pointers in quick succession during the second quarter.

Haliburton ended up with 31 points and eight assists, delivering an exceptional performance. He’s emerged as a critical player for the Pacers, especially in clutch moments. Coach Rick Carlisle credited Haliburton’s leadership as key to turning the game around.

In the third quarter, the Pacers took their first lead of the game with a 3-pointer from Pascal Siakam, capping off an 11-0 run. After that, the Cavaliers struggled offensively, shooting poorly and losing momentum. Late in the third, Mitchell had to leave the game due to injury, which further affected Cleveland’s performance.

Despite a late push, the Cavaliers couldn’t regain control. Cleveland’s season ended with Mitchell scoring 35 points, but their struggles from the 3-point line — hitting only 9 of 35 attempts — were pivotal to their defeat.

The Pacers are now eyeing their next challenge, which hinges on the outcome of the New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics series. With the Knicks leading 3-1 and a chance to advance for the first time since 1999, the stakes are high.

This playoff run is crucial for the Pacers. They’re aiming for their first Finals appearance in 25 years. After a strong postseason start at 8-2, they are closer than ever to breaking that long-standing drought. The excitement around the team is palpable as they prepare for what could be their biggest moment in decades.

For more on the Pacers’ journey, you can check out the [NBA Stats](https://www.nba.com/stats/) for further insights and detailed game analysis.

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Tyrese Haliburton, Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Eastern Conference, Pascal Siakam, LeBron James, Andrew Nembhard, Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, Jayson Tatum, Celtics, Knicks