Julia Christine Botin

NBA: Haliburton stunner sinks Cavs as Pacers take 2-0 series lead

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1746586702504New Project (2).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers celebrates after the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Round 2 Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on May 6, 2025 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.  Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty Images/Getty Images via AFP</div>LOS ANGELES - Tyrese Haliburton scored a dramatic three-pointer with just over a second remaining as the Indiana Pacers stunned the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 120-119 to take a commanding 2-0 lead in their NBA Eastern Conference semi-final series on Tuesday.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/5/5/pacers-shock-cavs-in-nba-playoff-series-opener-1024">Pacers shock Cavs in NBA playoff series opener</a></div>Haliburton&#x27;s ice-cold 24-foot step-back three with just 1.1 seconds left on the clock completed a remarkable comeback from fourth seeds Indiana and leaves Cleveland in a daunting position as the best-of-seven series heads back to Indianapolis.Donovan Mitchell had almost single-handedly dragged an injury-depleted Cleveland to victory with a masterful performance, scoring 48 points in a game the Cavs led by 20 points midway through the third quarter.But Cleveland, missing injured starters Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and De&#x27;Andre Hunter, wilted visibly down the stretch as a dogged Pacers line-up refused to roll over and steadily chipped away at the Cavaliers&#x27; lead.Cleveland forward Max Strus looked to have put the Cavs on course for victory after draining his fifth three-pointer of the night to put the home side 117-110 up with just over a minute remaining.Indiana, though, closed with a 10-2 run in the final minute, culminating with Haliburton&#x27;s winning three in the final seconds to set the seal on a sensational fightback.&quot;Cleveland hit us with a hellacious punch early in the game and it was difficult to get the ball over half court, let alone score,&quot; Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said afterwards.&quot;We played from behind the whole game. But in the fourth quarter we just hung in there. We&#x27;ve been in a lot of these situations down the stretch this season. Our group has a belief in one another and we just keep executing and keep playing.&quot;Pacers point guard Haliburton finished with 19 points while Aaron Nesmith and Myles Turner scored 23 points apiece. Six Indiana players finished in double figures.Mitchell&#x27;s 48-point performance was backed by Strus with 23 points while Jarrett Allen added 22.Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said his team had &quot;ran out of gas.&quot;&quot;We outplayed them for most of the game,&quot; Atkinson said. &quot;We couldn&#x27;t really separate ourselves. Every possession, they just upped their physicality. We ran out of gas.&quot;But with fatigue comes decision-making, and we had some poor decision-making. That was part of the collapse.&quot;Game three in the series takes place in Indianapolis on Friday.<div>© Agence France-Presse</div>

Tyrese Haliburton scored a dramatic three-pointer with just over a second remaining as the Indiana Pacers stunned the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 120-119 to take a commanding 2-0 lead in their NBA Eastern Conference semi-final series on Tuesday.

Tyrese Haliburton scored a dramatic three-pointer with just over a second remaining as the Indiana Pacers stunned the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 120-119 to take a commanding 2-0 lead in their NBA Eastern Conference semi-final series on Tuesday.