Pacers-Cavaliers: 5 snack bars as Indiana shocked Cleveland in game 2

There was a moment in the Cavaliers-Pacers game on Tuesday when the Cleveland fans Tyrese Haliburton were able to “overvarted” when he was preparing to shoot free throws.

Donovan Mitchell did a noble thing: he indicated that they stop.

Then Haliburton let her stop and later eat these words shortly before the buzzer by essentially said: Overvaluation of this.

As in the game gaming.

As in: bring the east of the top seeds into serious difficulties.

In a game in which the Pacers had no business – the Cavs were missing three important rotation players – then it was Indiana when it fell back with 20 points and fell back the entire game in practice.

These NBA playoffs become crazy at night.

This result fell in the last hectic seconds of Pacers with a 47 second lead and Haliburton 3-point hoop made it possible for the Pacers to take over a 2-0 lead … while he went home for the next two games.

Here are five snack bars of an exciting, harmful, wild victory from 120 to 119 for Indiana in game 2:

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1. Hali had to have it (again)

He was put into service in a minute more about him all night, because the Pacers longed for a Redeemer at the moment of truth. They held back after the gap of 20 points and after the first quarter at 17 and half -time 11.

Suddenly it was a three -point game with a 27 second lead. And the Max Strus of the Cavs threw a lazy passport in which Andrew Nembhard had intercepted. Indy ball.

If they remember, it wasn't Haliburton who ran to the Hoop against the Giannis antetocounmpo, dropped an inverted layup and then jumped on the goal scorer table to celebrate a shocking win in the previous round?

This time his heroic deeds violate every script. He was fouled and missed the first free throw with a 12 second lead. He missed the second and his offensive rebound was almost as impressive as what the next come of the size of Ty Jerome and then managed to drop the game winner.

Haliburton also played the second half with a throbbing left hand, which he had slightly injured in the second quarter. But this hand must have felt good on the 3 pointer.

After playing the hero for the second time in a week and wearing the cloak, we know so much: Haliburton is now correct and more precise.

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2. Mitchell Masterclass

There were times when Mitchell looked like a Kia MVP candidate during his career, the best known when he settled in the Disney bubble in the Disney bubble in 2020.

In view of the circumstances, this recent exertion of the next stage was necessary, and Mitchell accepted the task. The cavs were short-handed, but not a franchise player against the Pacers. He made 18 shots in the first half, his most this season. That alone revealed his way of thinking.

Overall, Mitchell broke the defense of the Pacers – most empty with a facial container on Pascal Siakam – for 48 points and nine templates. Whenever the cavs needed a bucket or only someone to keep the Pacers on their heels, Mitchell was chosen, and there was really no other worthy candidate.

But the longer this game went and the more the lead shrank, the more the cavaliers needed more than Mitchell. However …

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3. Cavs is not only missing too much, but also three a lot

Remove three most important rotary players, one of which is a major winner from 2025 of one of the remaining playoff teams. How many will this game win?

Well, not the cavs and probably nobody. At least the Cavs had a shot until they collapsed in the clutch.

No Evan Mabley, the Kia defensive player of the year. No de'andre Hunter, fourth in the sixth man Award Voting. No Darius Garland, her second scorer. All missing in game 2 with injuries.

And no squares in this second round series.

The cavs cannot afford to miss the players more games. Garland missed four consecutive playoff games with a problematic big toe. Mobley, who has a bricked -up ankle, is her best defender and might have snatched this rebound from Haliburton. Hunter (thumb) could have free a bank that Jerome got cold, scored 1: 14 and scored two points.

The No. 1 seed is just shaken.

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4. Nesmith was evil

The turning point was perhaps when Siakam, which had most of the night, was for the second of two shots on the open -cast lines and was seven, 48 seconds ahead.

He missed. Bad news.

Then better news. Aaron Nesmith hurried from the tip of the key – Mitchell pulled his jersey – and dived the Miss. After that, the Cavs did not achieve any further point and did not even cross the middle of the square with the ball. Then the Pacers got every loose ball and played every necessary game.

After that, Haliburton had his chance to steal one.

Nesmith was solid in this game with 23 points and three blocks. He essentially took on the role of Siakam, which for some reason was the back of Mitchell – he was gentle. Siakam only made eight shots and was a non-factor.

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5. Can cavs crawl back?

That is the big question here. Only five teams in the NBA story gathered around a series after they lost the first two at home. It is the first time that the Cavs were exposed to adverse things throughout the season.

Remember you went 15-0 at the beginning. They added a 16-game strip and a 12-gamer. You won 64 games. They took the top seed. They put up some team records that withdrawn this team led by LeBron James.

Oh – and they opened the playoffs by swetting the Miami heat.

They took 30-11 on the street, which is of some comfort when they go to Indianapolis, but these treats of the regular season are not really important now. The cavs now have to save a season that was something special. And it will require a special effort – from more than just Donovan Mitchell.

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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can send him an email Here you will find his archive here and follow him X.

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