INDIANAPOLIS — Pascal Siakam scored 21 factors and the Indiana Pacers tied an NBA playoff report by taking a 41-point halftime lead earlier than routing the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 129-109 on Sunday night time for a 3-1 lead within the Japanese Convention semifinals.
The Pacers can earn a second straight journey to the East finals with a victory Tuesday in Cleveland, the place they received the primary two video games.
Indiana jumped to an 80-39 lead at halftime and led by 44 factors. The 41-point lead matched the margin Cleveland set in Recreation 2 of the 2017 Japanese Convention finals in opposition to Boston, based on Sportradar.
And Indiana did it largely with out Bennedict Mathurin, considered one of its prime playoff scorers, who was ejected simply 7 1/2 minutes into the sport for a flagrant foul.
Darius Garland led the Cavs with 21 factors and Donovan Mitchell had 17 factors regardless of not taking part in within the second half due to a left ankle damage. Coach Kenny Atkinson stated his All-Star guard would have an MRI examination Monday.
For the Pacers, it was a redeeming second in entrance of a towel-waving dwelling crowd simply two days after an embarrassing 22-point loss on its dwelling court docket. The Cavs dominated the glass, held two-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton to 4 factors and 5 assists and fought tougher than Indiana.
This time, the Pacers left little doubt about who could be the aggressor.
Indiana took management shortly with early runs of 11-2 and 13-0 to construct a commanding 48-23 lead with 9:24 left within the first half. They didn’t cease — or again down — there, both, closing the half on a 19-2 run.
Aaron Nesmith’s buzzer-beating midrange jumper put the Pacers in one other unique membership — the tenth crew in playoff historical past and second this week to attain 80 factors within the first half of a playoff recreation. Oklahoma Metropolis scored 87 factors in Recreation 2 in opposition to Denver.
Myles Turner made all 4 of his 3-point makes an attempt and scored 20 factors, as did Obi Toppin.
By Michael Marot
