The Indiana Pacers delivered a stunning 120-119 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night, stealing Game 2 and taking a 2-0 series lead back home. The game saw Indiana overcome a 20-point deficit and rally in the final minute, capped by Tyrese Haliburton’s game-winning three-pointer with just seconds remaining. Once taunted by Cleveland fans with chants of “overrated,” Haliburton silenced the crowd in dramatic fashion, turning boos into disbelief.
Indiana had no business winning after trailing for nearly the entire contest and being down seven with just 47 seconds left. However, a late surge led by Haliburton and supported by Aaron Nesmith’s hustle plays flipped the game on its head. Missing three key rotational players — Evan Mobley (ankle), De’Andre Hunter (thumb), and Darius Garland (toe) — the Cleveland Cavaliers ran out of options when it mattered most.
Haliburton’s performance was especially gutsy. Despite playing the second half with an injured left hand, he nailed the game-winner after missing two crucial free throws moments earlier. His second consecutive playoff game-winning performance has now put the Pacers in a commanding position and reshaped expectations for the series.
Mitchell Shines Solo While Cavaliers’ Depth Falters
Donovan Mitchell turned in a spectacular performance, scoring 48 points and dishing out nine assists in a valiant solo effort. From the opening tip, it was clear Mitchell understood the stakes. He took 18 shots in the first half alone, the most in any half this season, and remained relentless on offense — even delivering a thunderous dunk over Pascal Siakam.
Despite Mitchell’s brilliance, Cleveland’s supporting cast could not hold the line. Missing three key rotational players — Evan Mobley (ankle), De’Andre Hunter (thumb), and Darius Garland (toe) — the Cleveland Cavaliers ran out of options when it mattered most. Max Strus’s costly turnover in the closing seconds set the stage for Indiana’s final push, and Ty Jerome, who went just 1-for-14 from the field, failed to provide any bench relief.
The absence of Mobley, a top-tier defender and the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, was especially glaring in the game’s final sequence. It’s not hard to imagine him grabbing the rebound Haliburton eventually turned into a game-winning three. Without their full roster, the Cavs’ impressive regular-season achievements feel like a distant memory.
Nesmith’s Spark and Cavs’ Uphill Climb
Aaron Nesmith emerged as an unsung hero for Indiana, contributing 23 points and three blocks, including a pivotal moment that turned the game’s momentum. With under a minute to play and Indiana down seven, Nesmith soared in to dunk a missed free throw by Siakam — even while being tugged by Mitchell. That hustle play ignited Indiana’s final burst and left Cleveland scoreless in the game’s closing seconds.
With the Cleveland Cavaliers now trailing 0-2, history is not on their side: only five teams in NBA history have come back from losing the first two games at home to win a series. Cleveland, who set records this season with a 64-win campaign and long winning streaks, now faces its first real adversity. The team’s dominant regular-season road record (30-11) offers a glimmer of hope, but the Cavaliers will need much more than Mitchell to salvage their season.
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