Photo of Lukhanyo Gqokoma

Haliburton’s clutch three completes Pacers’ epic comeback against Cavs

1y By Lukhanyo Gqokoma

The Indiana Pacers defeated the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 120-119 to claim victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA playoffs on Tuesday.

Tyrese Haliburton’s 24-foot three-pointer with just 1.1 seconds remaining sealed a remarkable comeback from fourth seeds Indiana as they took a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semi-final series.

Donovan Mitchell had almost single-handedly dragged an injury-depleted Cleveland to victory with a masterful performance, scoring 48 points in a game the Cavs led by 20 midway through the third quarter.

But Cleveland, missing injured starters Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and De’Andre Hunter, wilted visibly down the stretch as a dogged Pacers line-up refused to roll over and steadily chipped away at the Cavaliers’ lead.

Cleveland forward Max Strus looked to have put the Cavs on course for victory after draining his fifth three-pointer of the night to put the home side 117-110 up with just over a minute remaining.

Indiana, though, closed with a 10-2 run, culminating with Haliburton’s winning three to set the seal on a sensational fightback.

“Cleveland hit us with a hellacious punch early in the game and it was difficult to get the ball over half court, let alone score,” Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said afterwards.

“We played from behind the whole game. But in the fourth quarter we just hung in there…our group has a belief in one another and we just keep executing and keep playing.”

Pacers point guard Haliburton finished with 19 points while Aaron Nesmith and Myles Turner scored 23 points apiece. Six Indiana players finished in double figures.

Mitchell’s 48-point performance was backed by Strus with 23 points while Jarrett Allen added 22.

Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said his team had faded in the critical fourth quarter.

“We outplayed them for most of the game,” Atkinson said.

“We couldn’t really separate ourselves. Every possession, they just upped their physicality. We ran out of gas.”

Game three is in Indianapolis on Friday.

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: Jason Miller/Getty Images

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