Pacers Dominate Cavs in Historic Playoff Performance, But Coach Carlisle Stays Grounded
INDIANAPOLIS — In a stunning display of basketball prowess, the Indiana Pacers built the largest halftime lead in playoff history, cruising to a 129-109 Game 4 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. This win has given the Pacers a commanding 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Yet, despite this remarkable achievement, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle remains focused and cautious.
“We haven’t done anything yet,” Carlisle remarked on Sunday night, emphasizing the need for his team to stay grounded and focused on the task at hand.
Throughout the series, the Pacers have been seen as the underdogs against the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers. Carlisle is determined to keep his team in that mindset, even as they stand just one win away from a second consecutive conference finals appearance.
“We’re going to keep approaching this like we have everything to prove,” Carlisle said. “We know people don’t believe in us … the things about the scores and all that, it’s meaningless. This game is now history. So, we got to stay in the present moment as much as we can try to maintain an edge.”
The Pacers’ performance on Sunday was nothing short of spectacular. They never trailed in the game, racing out to an 80-39 halftime advantage. Indiana’s defense was stifling, forcing Cleveland into more turnovers (14) than it allowed field goals (8). This 41-point lead tied the largest in NBA postseason history, matching the 2017 Cavaliers who led the Boston Celtics by 41 during an Eastern Conference finals game, according to ESPN Research.
Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson acknowledged the Pacers’ dominance, saying, “Complete domination by them. That’s kind of the story. In every facet.”
Despite picking up their first win of the series in Friday’s Game 3, aided by the return of Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, and De’Andre Hunter, the Cavaliers struggled to contain the Pacers on Sunday. The Cavs had previously flummoxed the Pacers with a 3-2 zone defense, but Indiana had an answer this time, shooting 9-for-15 (60%) from the field against the zone and hitting 3 of their 6 3-pointers.
Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton praised the team’s ability to adjust, saying, “Our film sessions are always pretty ugly after a loss. I feel that Coach is a savant when it comes to adjustments and getting the best out of guys. And I think we can just follow that lead and his intensity come playoff time. It’s easy to follow.”
Haliburton contributed 11 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds to the victory. The Pacers had seven players finish in double figures, with three — Obi Toppin, Pascal Siakam, and Myles Turner — scoring 20 points each. Indiana’s 129 points tied its most in a game this postseason.
“We just came out with good energy,” Haliburton said. “I thought last game they set the tone from a physicality standpoint. That’s been a talking point from them all series. Today we came out, set the tone from the jump and really just rode that wave.”
For the Cavaliers, who won a franchise-record 64 games and led the Eastern Conference all season, the brink of elimination is a harsh reality. Garland managed 21 points, but Mobley was limited to just 10, while Jarrett Allen had 2 points and 2 rebounds.
Atkinson reflected on the game, saying, “They raised their game to another level and we didn’t match it. We talked about it. We knew it was coming. You try to prepare for these things. You try to prepare your guys mentally, but for whatever reason they were at another level. Their force was greater in every sense.”
Now, the Cavaliers face a daunting challenge, trailing 3-1 in the series with the status of star Donovan Mitchell uncertain. Mitchell is scheduled to undergo an MRI on his injured left ankle Monday.
Game 5 is set for Tuesday in Cleveland, and Carlisle is preparing for a fierce battle. “There’s going to be a big haymaker coming,” he said. “We respect the heck out of their fans and what they got going there. A lot of work to do.”
- Indiana Pacers lead series 3-1
- Largest halftime lead in playoff history
- Game 5 scheduled for Tuesday in Cleveland
Originally Written by: Jamal Collier
