Pacers on Brink of Eliminating Cavaliers After 129-109 Win
The Indiana Pacers took a commanding 3-1 lead in their NBA playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers with a convincing 129-109 win on Sunday. The Pacers’ victory puts the Cavaliers on the brink of elimination, with the series shifting to Cleveland for game five on Tuesday.
According to Yahoo Sports, the Pacers were led by Pascal Siakam, who scored 21 points, as seven players reached double figures in scoring. The team’s dominance was evident from the start, with an 80-39 halftime lead that effectively sealed the win.
The Cavaliers’ star player, Donovan Mitchell, was doubtful to return for the second half with a left ankle injury, which could be a significant blow to the team’s chances of staying in the series. Mitchell scored 12 points in the first half but was clearly struggling with his ankle prior to the start of the second half. An MRI scan is scheduled for Monday to assess the extent of the injury.
The Pacers’ win was marked by a physical encounter, with Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin being ejected with 4:32 left in the first quarter for a punch to De’Andre Hunter’s chest. Hunter received a technical foul for responding with a two-handed shove, while Myles Turner also got a technical for intervening.
The Pacers’ coach, Rick Carlisle, was pleased with his team’s response to their game-three defeat. "This is a group that plays better through adversity," Turner said, as quoted by Yahoo Sports. "We got punched in the mouth last game, we had a hell of a response. The starters set the tone and the bench picked it up the rest of the game."
The Pacers’ bench was a key factor in the win, with Turner and Obi Toppin adding 20 points each, and Tyrese Haliburton finishing with 11 points. Darius Garland led the Cavaliers’ scoring with 21 points, but the team’s 22 turnovers led to 35 Pacers points.
In the other game, the Oklahoma City Thunder edged the Denver Nuggets 92-87 to level their series at two games apiece. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points, with six rebounds and six assists, to lead the Thunder. NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for Denver, but the Nuggets failed to capitalize on a strong second-half performance.
The Thunder’s win was marked by a strong defensive effort, with the team holding the Nuggets to just 18 points in the fourth quarter. "We got stops, held them to 18 points in the fourth quarter," Gilgeous-Alexander said, as quoted by Yahoo Sports. "They obviously came out hot after halftime, jumped on us, but defensive end is always it for us… We got it back on track and we were able to get a W."
The series now shifts to Oklahoma City for game five on Tuesday, with the Thunder looking to take control of the series. The Nuggets’ coach, David Adelman, praised the Thunder’s defensive effort, saying, "I thought tired legs out there from both teams. Give their team credit, in a really disgusting basketball game, those guys made plays, made enough plays to push them over the edge and win the game."
The Pacers and Cavaliers series is set to resume on Tuesday, with the Pacers looking to close out the series. The Cavaliers will be hoping that Mitchell’s injury is not as severe as initially thought and that he can return for game five.
As the NBA playoffs continue, fans can expect more thrilling matchups and dramatic finishes. With the Pacers on the brink of eliminating the Cavaliers, all eyes will be on game five to see if the Cavaliers can mount a comeback or if the Pacers will seal their spot in the next round.
Pacers vs Cavaliers: Key Stats
- Pacers: 129 points, 21 points from Pascal Siakam
- Cavaliers: 109 points, 21 points from Darius Garland
- Pacers: 7 players in double figures, 12-15 three-pointers in the first half
Thunder vs Nuggets: Key Stats
- Thunder: 92 points, 25 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Nuggets: 87 points, 27 points from Nikola Jokic
- Thunder: Held Nuggets to 18 points in the fourth quarter
