Overrated? Nope. Just over. Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton close out Cavs in 5 games
CLEVELAND -- Tyrese Haliburton scored 31 points, hitting six 3-pointers and dishing out eight assists to lead the Pacers to a 114-105 win over the Cavs in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Tuesday night in Rocket Arena taking a 4-1 series win and advancing to the Eastern Conference finals for the second straight season.
The Pacers await either the Knicks or Celtics. The Knicks have a 3-1 lead in that series. The Pacers won all three road games they played in the series.
Pascal Siakam added 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Guard Andrew Nembhard had 18 points and six assists. Forward Aaron Nesmith had 13 points and 12 rebounds and center Myles Turner had 10 points, seven rebounds and four blocks. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with 35 points. Forward Evan Mobley added 24.
Tyrese Haliburton turns game around with 3s
The Pacers spent much of the first quarter disjointed on offense. Part of the reason was that All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton picked up two fouls in the first five minutes and checked out with 7:09 to go in the first, shaking up the rotations for the rest of the period. The Pacers trailed 31-19 at the end of the first period, making just 7 of 22 field goals including 1 of 8 3-pointers, posting 0.70 points per possession. Things didn't get much better early in the second as the Pacers fell behind 44-25 with 8:10 to go in the second period on two free throws by Evan Mobley.
On the ensuing possession, however, Haliburton hit a step-back 3-pointer for his first field goal of the night and once he hit he couldn't miss. He hit all five of his 3-point attempts in the quarter and kept going further back. Four of his five 3s came from at least 29 feet, he hit one from near the logo beyond 34 feet and his 3s averaged over 30 feet per make.
That sparked a previously quiet Pacers offense and Indiana outscored the Cavs 27-12 from that point forward to cut the deficit to 56-52 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Pacers maintained their rhythm while the Cavs lost theirs, outscoring them 33-20 to take control heading into the fourth. Haliburton finished with 31 points on 10 of 15 shooting including 6 of 10 from 3.
Andrew Nembhard buckets help Pacers hold off Cavs rally
After the Cavs fell behind double digits in the fourth quarter they rallied back with one more haymaker and got back within a possession of the lead. However, as usual, Andrew Nembhard was there to hit big shots when it counted.
The Pacers guard scored xx points in the fourth quarter including x big 3-pointers and a 3-point play on an 8-foot jumper with 1:07 to go that put the Pacers up six after a Donovan Mitchell 3-pointer had made it a one-possession game. Nembhard finished with 18 points on 7 of 11 shooting including 3 of 6 from 3-point range.
Myles Turner's rim protection makes big impact
The Cavs had a chance to rebuild a double-figure lead early in the third quarter when Donovan Mitchell stole a pass from Andrew Nembhard and had nothing between him and the basket on the other end of the floor. However, the All-NBA guard got a little greedy, slowing his gait as he neared the rim, apparently sensing Pacers center Myles Turner chasing him down the floor and hoping to draw him into a foul and a 3-point play.
However, Turner denied him, catching up and managing a clean block on his layup attempt. Cavs forward Max Strus followed Mitchell down the floor and grabbed the rebound, but Andrew Nembhard blocked his shot. A bucket would've put the Cavs up 62-52, but instead Turner hit a turnaround jumper with 9:58 to go that got the Pacers back within six and helped start the Pacers' third quarter takeover of the game.
Turner's rim protection has been excellent all season and throughout the playoffs and it was next level in this game. Turner finished with four blocked shots and the Pacers had eight as a team. The Cavs still scored 50 points in the paint but the number could've been a lot higher if not for that.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: NBA playoffs: Pacers eliminate Cavs with Game 5 closeout in Cleveland
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