Indianapolis, IN — The Indiana Pacers delivered a resounding response on Sunday to their recent playoff setback, overwhelming the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 129-109 to seize a commanding 3-1 lead in their first-round series.
Just two days after a disheartening 22-point defeat at home, Indiana bounced back in dominant fashion, matching an NBA postseason record by leading by 41 points at halftime. Pascal Siakam led the charge with 21 points, while Myles Turner and Obi Toppin each added 20.
The Pacers now stand one win away from advancing and have the opportunity to close out the series Tuesday night in Cleveland — where they’ve already tasted victory twice.
“We haven’t accomplished anything yet,” head coach Rick Carlisle said after the game. The win marked his 33rd playoff victory with Indiana, surpassing Larry Bird for the most in the franchise’s NBA history. “We still have everything to prove. We know the doubters are out there, and we’re staying locked in.”
Indiana’s resolve was evident from the opening tip. Fueled by a roaring home crowd and looking to erase the memory of Friday’s loss — in which they were thoroughly outplayed — the Pacers came out with intensity and physicality. They opened the game with decisive runs of 11-2 and 13-0, building a 25-point cushion midway through the second quarter and pushing the lead to as much as 44 before halftime.
The Pacers entered the break ahead 80-39 — tying the largest halftime lead in NBA playoff history since detailed stats began, matching Cleveland’s own performance against Boston in the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals.
Notably, Indiana put together this historic performance without key scorer Bennedict Mathurin, who was ejected less than eight minutes into the game for a Flagrant 2 foul. Still, the team didn’t flinch.
Cleveland’s troubles were compounded when star guard Donovan Mitchell was sidelined for the second half due to a left ankle injury. Coach Kenny Atkinson confirmed Mitchell would undergo an MRI on Monday. Without him, the Cavs struggled to find rhythm, with Darius Garland contributing a team-high 21 points in just his second game back from a toe injury. Mitchell finished with 12 points.
“They completely outplayed us,” Atkinson admitted. “It was total domination in every aspect.”
The Pacers punctuated their first-half explosion with Aaron Nesmith’s buzzer-beater, becoming just the 10th team in NBA history — and the second this week — to score at least 80 points in the first half of a playoff game. (Oklahoma City notched 87 in Game 2 against Denver.)
Turner was perfect from deep, hitting all four of his 3-point attempts, as a star-studded crowd including IndyCar legends Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon, WNBA phenoms Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston, and NFL great Reggie Wayne watched the spectacle unfold.
Reflecting on the game, Tyrese Haliburton — who was held to just four points in Game 3 — chipped in 11 points, five rebounds, and five assists, and emphasized Indiana’s mindset shift.
“They punched us first last game,” Haliburton said. “Tonight, we came out and hit first — and never let up.”
