NBA: Pacers construct 41-point lead, rout Cavs for 3-1 merit

INDIANAPOLIS — Pascal Siakam scored 21 issues and the Indiana Pacers tied an NBA playoff report by means of taking a 41-point halftime lead prior to routing the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 129-109 on Sunday night time for a 3-1 lead within the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Pacers can earn a 2d immediately commute to the East finals with a victory Tuesday in Cleveland, the place they received the primary two video games.

READ: NBA: Donovan Mitchell ratings 43, Cavs keep away from 0-3 hollow vs Pacers

PACERS TAKE 3-1 SERIES LEAD ON A DOMINANT PERFORMANCE AT HOME 🔥💯

Siakam: 21 PTS, 9-10 FGM, 6 REB
Turner: 20 PTS, 4-4 3PM, 7 REB
Toppin: 20 PTS, 9-14 FGM, 5 REB pic.twitter.com/B2wNary2fu

— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2025

Indiana jumped to an 80-39 lead at halftime and led by means of 44 issues. The 41-point lead matched the margin Cleveland set in Game 2 of the 2017 Eastern Conference finals towards Boston, in keeping with Sportradar.

And Indiana did it most commonly with out Bennedict Mathurin, one in all its height playoff scorers, who was once ejected simply 7 1/2 mins into the sport for a flagrant foul.

Darius Garland led the Cavs with 21 issues and Donovan Mitchell had 12 in spite of no longer enjoying in the second one part on account of a left ankle harm. Coach Kenny Atkinson stated his All-Star guard would have an MRI examination Monday.

For the Pacers, it was once a redeeming second in entrance of a towel-waving house crowd simply two days after an embarrassing 22-point loss on its house courtroom. The Cavs ruled the glass, held two-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton to 4 issues and 5 assists and fought tougher than Indiana.

READ: NBA: Haliburton hits ultimate 2d 3, Pacers take 2-0 lead over Cavs

This time, the Pacers left undoubtedly about who will be the aggressor.

Indiana took keep an eye on temporarily with early runs of 11-2 and 13-0 to construct a commanding 48-23 lead with 9:24 left within the first part. They didn’t prevent — or backtrack — there, both, ultimate the part on a 19-2 run.

Aaron Nesmith’s buzzer-beating midrange jumper put the Pacers in every other unique membership — the 10th crew in playoff historical past and 2d this week to attain 80 issues within the first part of a playoff recreation. Oklahoma City scored 87 issues in Game 2 towards Denver.

Myles Turner made all 4 of his 3-point makes an attempt and scored 20 issues, as did Obi Toppin.