Pacers face Cavs in Round 2 after strong playoff start
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The Pacers and Cavs clash in The Land on Sunday. Photo: Justin Casterline/Getty Images
The Pacers are hitting the road this weekend for an Eastern Conference Semifinal showdown with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Why it matters: Indiana will relinquish the home court advantage that proved beneficial all season as they attempt to take down the top-seeded Cavs.
State of play: The Pacers, led by All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, dispatched Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in five games.
- The closing moments of the series included a Haliburton game winner in overtime that will probably play in Pacers highlight reels for years to come.
- The Cavs, meanwhile, are coming off the most lopsided playoff series in NBA history, eviscerating the Miami Heat in four games by a total of 122 points.
The big picture: These are two of the league's most lethal offenses, with deep and flexible rosters, lights-out shooters and elite coaching. It'll be a high-scoring best-of-seven series.
Players to watch:
- For the Pacers: Haliburton, whose height at the guard position (6'5") makes him one of the NBA's savviest passers. He'll be a handful on the perimeter for Cleveland defenders.
- For the Cavs: Donovan Mitchell, who's currently tied with Michael Jordan — heard of him? — for the most consecutive 30-point performances in the first game of a playoff series. He'll be the solo leader if he drops 30 on Sunday.
Flashback: This is the fourth time the Pacers and Cavs have met in the NBA Playoffs.
- The Pacers had a 3-1 record against Cleveland during the regular season.
Yes, but: Two of those wins happened during the final week of the regular season when the Cavs were resting many of their key starters.
👀 What we're watching: If the Pacers' deep bench can continue to be a difference maker.
- Indiana has seven players averaging at least 10 points per game in the postseason.
💠Justin's prediction: As someone who has called Central Indiana home for the past 21 years, I've supported the Pacers' strong season and Haliburton's late-game heroics.
- But that ends now. I'm from Cleveland, and the first jersey I ever owned as a kid said "Nance 22" on the back.
- Cavs in six — a polite prediction that hopefully won't get me cussed out by Pacers' fans during my next Kroger run.
💠Axios Cleveland reporter Sam Allard's prediction: Cavs in six.
- In the final week of the regular season, the Cavs' third string gave the Pacers' starters a run for their money. I like our chances at full strength.
The bottom line: Rocket Arena will be bumping as the Cavs seek their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance without LeBron James on the roster since 1992.
How to watch: Sunday's game (time TBA) will be televised on TNT/Max, and the full Round 2 schedule will be announced soon.
- Tickets are available for as low as $90 on SeatGeek.
How to listen: 93.5/107.5 The Fan