The
Indiana Pacers delivered a dominant performance in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 129-109 on Sunday night to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. Powered by a historic first half, Indiana now sits just one win away from back-to-back appearances in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Pacers Tie NBA Playoff Record with 41-Point Halftime Lead
The Pacers came out firing on all cylinders, jumping out to a staggering 80-39 lead at halftime, tying an NBA playoff record for the largest halftime lead. The mark matches the Cavaliers' own 41-point halftime advantage set against the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals.
Indiana led by as many as 44 points, leaving no doubt after a disappointing 22-point loss at home in Game 3.
Balanced Pacers Attack Overwhelms Cleveland
Despite losing Bennedict Mathurin early in the game to a flagrant 2 foul and ejection just 7 1/2 minutes in, the Pacers didn’t miss a beat. Pascal Siakam led the way with 21 points, while Myles Turner and Obi Toppin each added 20 points. Turner was especially efficient, hitting all four of his 3-point attempts.
The Pacers controlled the game with explosive runs, opening the night with 11-2 and 13-0 bursts to build a 48-23 lead by the midway point of the second quarter. They finished the half on a 19-2 run, capped by an Aaron Nesmith buzzer-beater that put Indiana in rare company—just the 10th team in playoff history to score 80 or more points in a half.
Cavaliers Struggle with Injuries and Execution
Cleveland was dealt a major blow when
Donovan Mitchell, who had 17 points in the first half, did not return for the second half due to a left ankle injury. Head coach Kenny Atkinson said Mitchell will undergo an MRI on Monday. Darius Garland led the Cavaliers with 21 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Indiana’s early onslaught.
The Game 4 loss came after Cleveland had seemed to regain control of the series with a dominant performance in Game 3. However, Indiana flipped the script, controlling the glass, dictating tempo, and neutralizing Cleveland’s defensive intensity.
What’s Next: Game 5 in Cleveland
The Pacers now have a chance to
close out the series on the road in Game 5 on Tuesday night in Cleveland. Indiana already won the first two games of the series at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and will look to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals with another road win.
Key Stats from Game 4:
- Pascal Siakam: 21 points
- Myles Turner: 20 points, 4-for-4 from 3-point range
- Obi Toppin: 20 points
- Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell: 17 points (DNP second half, ankle)
- Darius Garland: 21 points
- Halftime Score: Pacers 80, Cavaliers 39 (Ties NBA record for largest halftime lead)
