The Indiana Pacers opened their second-round series in stunning fashion, earning a 121–112 road win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2024–25 NBA Playoffs. Despite facing one of the top teams from the regular season, Indiana delivered a strong collective performance to grab an early series lead—and star guard Tyrese Haliburton knows the challenge is far from over.
“It gives us a lot of momentum for sure, and you can feel good about it for the night,” Haliburton told ESPN. “But this is the best team in our conference. They play very hard. They don’t lose a ton, so they’re going to respond. We’ve got to be prepared for that going into Game 2.”
Haliburton finished the night with 22 points and 13 assists, controlling the tempo and taking advantage of Cleveland’s defensive lapses. His performance came at a crucial time, as critics have questioned whether the NBA All-Star is overhyped. Game 1 showed otherwise.
Off the court challenge: Haliburton reacts to father’s absence
Haliburton is also dealing with personal adversity. The Pacers and the NBA announced that his father, John Haliburton, would be banned from attending the remainder of the postseason following a courtside altercation involving Giannis Antetokounmpo earlier in the playoffs.
Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers reacts against the Miami Heat during the second half at Kaseya Center.
“I understand the decision made by our organization and the league,” Haliburton said, per Tony East. “I’ve spoken on it many times that my father was in the wrong, but at the end of the day, it’s my dad.”
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“I’m not going to ridicule him by any means. I love him dearly. He’s going to sit at home and watch the games, and he’ll be just fine. This is just one thing, and we’re not defined by one thing that happens in our life. Same thing with me—I’m not. We all make mistakes, and we move on.”
Cavaliers’ Atkinson credits Pacers after loss
Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson gave full credit to Indiana’s execution, citing their pace, ball movement, and shot-making as the difference in the game. “Their shot-making was otherworldly… give them credit,” Atkinson said, per team reporter Danny Cunningham. “I thought our offense let us down a little bit.”
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The Pacers shot a scorching 53 percent from the field and 52.8 percent from three-point range, draining 19 triples to Cleveland’s nine. Their balanced offensive attack overwhelmed the Cavs and delivered an early warning that this series may not go as expected.
