Pacers' Game 5 win doesn't feel like an upset after dominant second half

The Pacers came back from a 19-point deficit early in the second quarter to defeat — and eliminate — the top-seeded Cavaliers, 114-105.

For the first 16 minutes of the game, Cleveland led, 44-25. For the remaining 32 minutes, it was 96-69, Pacers.

Tyrese Haliburton led the way with 31 points and six three-pointers. The 25-year-old All-Star shot 10-for-15, passed out eight assists and took control of the game in the second quarter when the Cavs looked ready to blow out the Pacers. 

Instead, Haliburton made five triples in the quarter, three of them from 30 feet or further, as the Pacers closed to four points by halftime.

In the third quarter, Indiana locked down on defense, The Pacers took a commanding lead with a 21-2 run during a stretch where they held the Cavaliers without a field goal for over seven minutes. 

The run was punctuated by two dunks from Thomas Bryant, who gave Indiana nine big points off the bench.

Donovan Mitchell scored 35 points and shot a whopping 21 free throws but missed all three freebies late in the fourth quarter after being fouled on a three-point attempt. He and fellow All-Star guard Darius Garland, who was clearly limited by a toe injury, combined for only six points in the decisive third quarter.

The Cavaliers have more All-Stars, including Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley (24 points in Game 5), but the Pacers have a better team. They had 26 assists to Cleveland's 10, out-rebounded the much bigger Cavs (thanks to 6-foot-6 Aaron Nesmith's 13 boards) and had all five starters score in double figures.

Cleveland was a big favorite after a 64-18 season, but since Jan. 1, the Cavs were only a half-game better than the Pacers, who were quietly one of the NBA's four best teams in the 2025 calendar year behind only the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Boston Celtics and the Cavs.

The Pacers' flair for last-minute comebacks can disguise what a solid, tough team they are. They're 4-1 on the road this postseason and won a Game 7 in Madison Square Garden in last year's second round. 

Losing as the top seed is disappointing for the Cavaliers, but the Pacers proved that the outcome was no accident.