1. First Quarter

For the eighth consecutive playoff game, the Indiana Pacers started Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, and Myles Turner. As for the Cleveland Cavaliers, their starting lineup was Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. In the first two games, the Pacers got off to slow starts and would again tonight. The least likely candidate to be leaving Cleveland in scoring, Strus, scored eight of the first eleven points of the game. Turner was responsible for the first eight Pacers points of the game, but they were still down double figures. With 5:15 left in the quarter, Indiana was trailing 25-11 and then a switch flipped. Obi Toppin drained two foul shots, Bennedict Mathurin splashed a triple, Turner converted an alley oop layup, and then Mathurin connected on another three. Indiana was down 25-20 after those possessions with 4:00 remaining in the period. The run for the Pacers would last through the rest of the quarter when Ben Sheppard hit a three from the right wing to tie the game at 32 to end the quarter. Turner led all scorers with 12 points in the quarter. Cleveland was led by Strus and Mobley with 8 points each. Indiana shot 9/20 from the field and 5/7 from three-point range.

2. Second Quarter

The start of the second quarter resembled the first seven minutes of the first quarter where Cleveland dominated Indiana. Mitchell scored the first points in the quarter, preventing the Pacers from having a chance at taking their first lead. Indiana would tie it two more times but couldn’t get over the hump and take the lead. After Siakam tied the game at 36 with a layup, Cleveland went on a 25-6 run to take control of the game with a 61-40 advantage with 1:59 left in the half. Indiana simply went ice cold from the field, shooting 5/22 (22.7%) from the field and 0/11 from the three-point line. The Pacers shaved five points off their deficit, but they couldn’t maintain their success after that. Cleveland was leading Indiana 66-45 at intermission. Mitchell got going in the second quarter with 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists. Allen was also a key figure offensively, scoring 8 points. Mathurin’s 5 points were the highest among all Pacers players in the period. Leading all scorers at halftime was Mitchell with 17 points followed. Four of Cleveland’s starters were in double figures in the half. Strus and Allen each scored 13 points and Mobley scored 10 points. Indiana was bludgeoned on the glass in the half, being outrebounded 35-17. The Cavs had 13 offensive rebounds and turned those into 21 second chance points.

3. Third Quarter

Coming out of the locker room, the Pacers needed to show some fight and energy to try and get the crowd back into the contest. Instead, Cleveland held onto a twenty-point lead for the next six minutes. The Pacers, once again, went on a mini 5-0 run to make it an 80-65 game when Nembhard knocked down a thirty-foot three with 4:50 left in the quarter. Mitchell started a counter run for the Cavaliers with a three-point play and then set up De’Andre Hunter for a three. Cleveland’s advantage was right back to twenty points and was extended back to the game high twenty-four points when Mitchell connected on a technical foul free throw. The Pacers did make small strides in the last three minutes. After three quarters of play, Cleveland was on top of Indiana 97-79. Mitchell added another 12 points to his total, bringing him up to 29 points through three quarters. Nembhard and Mathurin each scored 7 points in the quarter. Haliburton was pretty much a non-factor after three quarters, registering 4 points, 5 assists, and 0 rebounds in 27 minutes of play. Indiana’s leading scorer was Mathurin with 20 points. Allen had another double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds in just 24 minutes on the floor.

4. Top Performers

Donovan Mitchell (43p, 9r, 5a), Max Strus (20p, 7r, 7a), Jarrett Allen (19p, 12r, 2b), Evan Mobley (18p, 13r, 4a, 2s, 3b), and Darius Garland (10p, 3a). For Indiana, Bennedict Mathurin (23p), Pascal Siakam (18p, 4r, 3a), Myles Turner (15p, 3r, 3b), T.J. McConnell (12p, 7a, 6r), and Andrew Nembhard (10p, 4r, 4a). For tonight’s full box score, click here.

5. Notes

• Indiana is now 9-1 at home in the playoffs with Tyrese Haliburton
• Indiana’s 22-point loss is the 3rd largest home playoff loss in franchise history
• Indiana’s 9 threes are the fewest in a playoff game this playoff run
• Indiana has turned the basketball over 12+ times in six straight games
  • Ties second longest streak of the season
• Cleveland is now 1-4 when Donovan Mitchell takes 28+ shots
• Cleveland has shot below 30% from three-point range in 3 straight games for the first time this season
• Since 1984, the road team to start the series is 9-4 when winning games one and two, but losing game three
• Bennedict Mathurin’s 23 points are a career high in a playoff game
• Donovan Mitchell’s 48 points are the most points scored against the Pacers in a playoff game in franchise history
• Donovan Mitchell has scored 40+ points in 7 playoff games in his career
• Donovan Mitchell has scored 30+ points for the 5th time in 7 playoff games
  • 30th playoff game with 30+ points
• Donovan Mitchell is one of seven players in NBA history to be averaging 28+ ppg in the playoffs
• Evan Mobley recorded his 2nd double-double in this playoff run
  • Mobley recorded his 9th double-double in his playoff career
• Jarrett Allen recorded his 10th double-double in the playoffs in his career
• Max Strus has scored 20+ points in four playoff games in his career
• Tyrese Haliburton’s 4 points are the fewest in a playoff game in his career
• Tyrese Haliburton’s 1 three-point attempt tied a season low
• Tyrese Haliburton hasn’t recorded a double-double in back-to-back games for the first time since March 27th and 29th
• Tyrese Haliburton’s 0 rebounds marked the second game this season without one

6. Next Up

Indiana and Cleveland will have a day off before facing off in a pivotal game four for the Pacers on Sunday night. The pregame coverage on 93.5/107.5 The Fan with Pat Boylan will start at 7:30pm and the play-by-play coverage with Mark Boyle and Eddie Gill will be at 8pm.