INDIANAPOLIS — A late 3-pointer from point guard Tyrese Haliburton helped the Indiana Pacers shock the Cleveland Cavaliers, 120-119, in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals Tuesday night. Indiana now leads its series against Cleveland, 2-0.
The Pacers erased a seven-point deficit with under 50 seconds to play at Rocket Arena. Guard Aaron Nesmith had a put-back dunk off a missed free throw, forward Pascal Siakam had a driving lay-up, then Haliburton made a free throw before his game-winning shot.
Center Myles Turner and Nesmith led Indiana with 23 points each. Haliburton and guard Bennedict Mathurin had 19 apiece. Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 48 points.
The Cavaliers were without three key contributors in guard Darius Garland and forwards De’Andre Hunter and Evan Mobley, who missed the game with injuries.
The Pacers tried to start Tuesday’s contest where they left off in the fourth quarter of Game 1, jumping out to a 9-4 lead. Cleveland responded with a 12-2 run to take control of the game. Sam Merrill’s 3-pointer gave the Cavaliers a 17-point lead after the first quarter.
Dean Wade made a 3-pointer to extend Cleveland’s lead to 20 less than a minute into the second quarter. The Pacers trimmed the lead to 11 by halftime.
The series now shifts to Indianapolis for the next two matchups. Game 3 is Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse at 7:30 p.m.