The 3 keys to the "surprising?" victory of the Pacers over the Cavs in the playoffs

Jorge P. Borreguero - 05 May 2025
Basket NBA Indiana Pacers Cleveland Cavaliers Playoffs NBA 2025 Tyrese Haliburton

Indiana has taken the 0-1 lead in their favor and stolen home-court advantage from a Cleveland team that came in as a heavy favorite.

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Tyrese Haliburton, star of the Indiana Pacers.

The 2025 NBA Playoffs have already started their Conference Semifinals. The first matchup was Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers, with a surprising outcome in Game 1.

The Pacers have taken the home-court advantage from the Cavs by defeating them 121-112, sending a warning to the entire NBA. But was their victory really that unexpected? There are 3 key reasons that explain it:

  1. The absence of Darius Garland: Cleveland's starting point guard missed the game due to injury, and his team felt his absence on the court. The Pacers dictated the game from the start.
  2. Tyrese Haliburton's pride: The Pacers' star was recently voted as the "most overrated player" in the NBA by league figures. Since then, Haliburton eliminated the Bucks with a stellar performance and tonight led Indiana to their first victory over Cleveland with 22 points and 13 assists.
  3. The 'Pacers' territory: Last year, they reached the Conference Finals for the same reason. Playing against Indiana feels like constantly being under their control. Rick Carlisle's work has been impeccable in recent years. Undoubtedly, they are on their way to extending the series and potentially winning it.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Las 3 claves del ¿sorprendente? triunfo de los Pacers sobre los Cavs en playoffs