The Indiana Pacers moved within a game of their second straight Eastern Conference Finals appearance. They are thrashing the Cleveland Cavaliers 129-109 during the Game 4 on 11 May at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The win gives Indiana a 3-1 series lead. Moreover, the a chance to close out the top-seeded Cavs on Tuesday in Cleveland.
Historic First Half Sets the Tone
Indiana’s dominance began early. The Pacers (3.00) erupted for an 80-39 halftime lead, tying the NBA playoff record for the largest halftime margin, set by the Cavaliers themselves in 2017 against the Boston Celtics (1.41), according to Sportradar. It also marked just the 10th time in NBA playoff history that a team has scored 80 points in a half, with Oklahoma City being the most recent, dropping 87 points against Denver earlier this week.
The Pacers shot a blistering 60% from the field in the first half. This includes 12-of-18 from three-point range, while piling up 25 assists, setting both franchise and NBA playoff records for assists in a single half. Cleveland (1.38), by contrast, managed just 25% shooting and recorded only three assists in the same stretch.
Indiana’s first-half explosion included runs of 11-2 and 13-0, eventually building a 48-23 lead midway through the second quarter. They closed the half on a 19-2 run, punctuated by an Aaron Nesmith buzzer-beater to seal their place in playoff history.
Mathurin Ejected, Pacers Stay Locked In
Remarkably, Indiana did all this without one of their top scorers, Bennedict Mathurin, who was ejected just 7 1/2 minutes into the game for a Flagrant 2 foul. Instead, the scoring load was shouldered by a balanced attack:
- Pascal Siakam – 21 points
- Myles Turner – 20 points (4-for-4 from three)
- Obi Toppin – 20 points
The Cavs, meanwhile, struggled to find any rhythm. Darius Garland led Cleveland with 21 points, while Donovan Mitchell added 17 points but did not play in the second half due to a left ankle injury. Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson confirmed Mitchell will undergo an MRI on Monday to assess the extent of the damage.
Looking Ahead
For the Pacers, this was a statement win. Just two days earlier, they were beaten by 22 points on their home court in Game 3, a performance that saw Tyrese Haliburton limited to just four points and five assists. But Indiana’s Game 4 response leaves no doubt about who the aggressor is in this series.
Now, with the chance to eliminate the top seed in front of a hostile Cleveland crowd, the Pacers are one win away from back-to-back trips to the Eastern Conference Finals — a feat never before accomplished in franchise history.
