The Indiana Pacers used a strong late-game performance to steal homecourt advantage with a 121-112 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 5.
Cleveland Cavaliers Top Performers:
Donovan Mitchell 33 PTS | 5 REB | 4 AST | 48.0 FPS
Mitchell recorded his eighth straight 30-point performance in Game 1 of a playoff series, surpassing Michael Jordan’s previous playoff record. Despite that, he was far from efficient—taking 30 shots and 9 from the line, while going just 1-for-11 from three. While his perimeter struggles are hard to ignore, he remain productive in scoring by attacking the basket. His inconsitency has been a problem in the season but they’ll need him to deliver and be more effective in offense in Game 2.
Ty Jerome 21 PTS | 3 REB | 8 AST | 38.6 FPS
Jerome has been outstanding with Garland unavailable, averaging 17 points and 8 assists over three games. His offensive role is likely to decline once Garland returns, but he should still be capable of big scoring performances off the bench.
Evan Mobley 20 PTS | 10 REB | 2 STL | 37.0 FPS
Mobley has scored at least 17 points, posted solid rebounding numbers, and maintained a consistent defensive production with stocks over his last four games. The Cavs will need him to sustain that two-way performance if they hope to advance to the next round.
Max Strus 7 PTS | 7 REB | 2 STL | 28.9 FPS
Strus struggled badly from the perimeter but remained impactful on defense. However, with the Cavs shooting just 23% from three, they’ll need him to get going offensively to have a better chance of tying the series.
De’Andre Hunter 11 PTS | 4 REB | 1 AST | 16.3 FPS
Hunter had been a dependable bench scorer, putting up at least 19 points in two games before this. But with most of his output coming from the offensive side, he may struggle to stay relevant once Garland returns.
Indiana Pacers Top Performers:
Tyrese Haliburton 22 PTS | 13 AST | 3 BLK | 56.1 FPS
Haliburton leads the playoffs in assists with 11.8 per game. While his shooting efficiency—especially from three—remains a weakness, he’s still managed to score at least 20 points while stepping up defensively with 10 stocks over the last two games. His two-way impact was crucial again today, particularly in the fourth quarter, blocking Strus’ three-point attempt and then converting it into a layup on the other end to push their lead to double-digits.
Myles Turner 13 PTS | 12 REB | 3 STL | 39.7 FPS
Turner came into the game on a hot streak, having scored 20 points in each of the previous two outings. While he couldn’t keep it going offensively, he still played a key role in the win with his defense and rebounding. He should continue to be a major factor in this series, as the team would lean more on his interior defense after the Cavs held a +32 edge in paint scoring.
Pascal Siakam 17 PTS | 7 REB | 4 AST | 33.6 FPS
Siakam came out strong, scoring 10 points in the first quarter to help set the tone early, but slowed down rest of the game. However, he has scored at least 18 points in 13 of his last 14 games against the Cavs and should be able to put up a bigger scoring performance in Game 2.
Andrew Nembhard 23 PTS | 5 3PM | 6 AST| 32.0 FPS
Nembhard was red-hot from three, finishing 5-for-6, including two clutch shots in the fourth to extend their lead. His inconsistency has been a concern this season, but he has turned it around in the playoffs, scoring at least 15 points in five of six games. He’s also likely to take on a bigger role, particularly on defense, with Garland expected to return in Game 2.
Aaron Nesmith 17 PTS | 8 REB | 1 BLK | 26.6 FPS
Nesmith gave the Pacers a spark with his outside shooting while also doing a great job slowing down Mitchell. Foul trouble limited his output, and his scoring numbers may not be sustainable, but he should stay impactful going forward.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Jarrett Allen 12 PTS | 5 REB | 2 STL
Jarrett was very efficient on both ends but wasn’t able to do much due to a limited involvement on offense. With the Pacers liking to play fast in transition, his production may also remain stagnant in this series.
