In a thrilling start to their second-round playoff series, the Indiana Pacers stunned the Cleveland Cavaliers by stealing Game 1 on the road with a gritty 108-104 victory. In front of a raucous crowd at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the Pacers showed no signs of nerves as they rallied in the final minutes to secure the upset and take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Tyrese Haliburton led the way for Indiana, finishing with 24 points, 9 assists, and 4 rebounds, orchestrating the offense with poise and confidence. He was especially key down the stretch, hitting a crucial three-pointer with under two minutes to go and calmly sinking free throws to help seal the win. But it wasn’t just Haliburton—it was a full team effort from a Pacers squad that has embraced the underdog mentality throughout the postseason.
“We came in here knowing it wasn’t going to be easy,” Haliburton said postgame. “But we’ve been doubted all year. We believe in each other, and we just play our game no matter where we are.”
The Cavaliers, led by Donovan Mitchell’s 32 points, appeared to be in control for much of the second half, building a double-digit lead midway through the third quarter. However, the Pacers refused to go away. Rick Carlisle made key adjustments, switching defensive coverages and increasing the tempo on offense, which began to wear down Cleveland’s frontcourt. Myles Turner chipped in 18 points and anchored the defense, while Bennedict Mathurin provided a spark off the bench with 16 points and relentless energy.
Indiana’s physical defense was also a major factor, particularly in the fourth quarter. The Pacers forced several late turnovers, and their aggressive closeouts disrupted Cleveland’s rhythm from beyond the arc. Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland struggled in the final minutes, combining for just 2 points in the last five minutes of the game. That defensive tenacity gave the Pacers just enough room to claw back and take control in crunch time.
The Cavaliers now face an unexpected level of pressure heading into Game 2. As the higher seed and home team, dropping the opening game of the series puts them in a vulnerable position. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff acknowledged as much in his postgame comments. “We got outworked in the fourth quarter. They hit us first, and we didn’t respond the way we needed to,” he said. “Now it’s about how we bounce back.”
For Indiana, the win marks another step forward for a young team that’s quickly maturing under the postseason spotlight. With Game 2 still in Cleveland, the Pacers have a golden opportunity to take a commanding lead before heading back to Indianapolis.
“We’re not satisfied,” said Turner. “One game doesn’t make a series, but it’s a hell of a start.”
As the series continues, it’s clear the Pacers are no longer just a feel-good story—they’re a legitimate threat. Game 1 proved that they have the toughness, talent, and togetherness to go toe-to-toe with anyone.
