Tyrese Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard with Big Shots in the 4th Quarter Led the Pacers to a Win in Game 1 Over the Cavs 🤝

The Indiana Pacers walked into Cleveland and made a statement in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals matchup, stealing a 108-104 win from the Cavaliers. The game was a back-and-forth battle from start to finish, but when the pressure mounted in the fourth quarter, it was the Pacers’ backcourt duo—Tyrese Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard—who delivered in the clutch. Their poise, precision, and perfectly timed buckets sealed a hard-fought victory and gave Indiana a 1–0 lead in the series.

The fourth quarter was tense, physical, and full of momentum swings. With just under six minutes to go, the Cavs had clawed back to tie the game after trailing for most of the third. The crowd was roaring, Cleveland’s defense had tightened up, and the energy in the building felt like it could tip the game in the home team’s favor. That’s when Tyrese Haliburton stepped up.

Haliburton, who had been orchestrating the offense all night, hit a deep step-back three to quiet the crowd and swing momentum back toward Indiana. Moments later, he sliced into the lane and dished a no-look assist to Myles Turner for an easy dunk. But the biggest sequence came in the final two minutes.

With the Cavs down just two and pressuring defensively, Haliburton dribbled to his right and kicked it to Andrew Nembhard, who had been steady all game. Without hesitation, Nembhard rose up and drilled a cold-blooded three from the wing to extend the lead to five. It was a moment that showed just how far the second-year guard has come—not just a role player, but a trusted contributor in winning time.

“That’s what makes this group special,” said Haliburton after the win. “We trust each other. I saw Nemb open and had no doubt he’d knock it down. He’s built for these moments.”

Nembhard finished the game with 17 points on efficient shooting, but it was his calm in the clutch that truly stood out. Defensively, he held his own against Darius Garland and didn’t shy away from pressure on either end. His shot selection, court awareness, and basketball IQ were critical throughout the final stretch.

Haliburton ended the night with 24 points and 9 assists, but more than that, he was the engine that kept Indiana composed during a raucous environment. Time after time, he delivered the right pass, the right shot, or the right read to keep the Pacers moving forward.

Cleveland got a big performance from Donovan Mitchell, who poured in 32 points, but the Pacers’ backcourt depth and execution late proved to be the difference.

With Game 2 still in Cleveland, Indiana has already flipped the pressure back onto the Cavs. If Haliburton and Nembhard continue to play with this level of poise and confidence, the Pacers may be poised to do more than just steal a game—they could steal the series.

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