The Indiana Pacers (49-32) secured a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference with a 114-112 win over the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers (61-20) on Thursday night in Indianapolis.
Tyrese Haliburton led the way with 23 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds, and three blocks, including eight points during a key fourth-quarter run. Aaron Nesmith added 22 points, and Myles Turner contributed 13 points, seven rebounds, and four blocks.
The Pacers, now on a six-game winning streak, clinched home-court advantage in the first round for the first time since 2014. They are one win away from their first 50-win season in over a decade.
After clinching the No. 1 seed in the East, Cleveland rested four of five starters. Ty Jerome led the Cavaliers with 24 points and six assists but did not play in the fourth quarter. De’Andre Hunter had 23 points and 11 rebounds. Jaylon Tyson missed a potential game-tying jumper at the buzzer.
Jarrett Allen grabbed 10 rebounds in the first half before joining the starters on the bench. Head coach Kenny Atkinson was ejected late in the third quarter after back-to-back technical fouls for arguing a no-call.
Indiana outscored Cleveland 23-9 in fast-break points and used a 10-0 run—highlighted by consecutive Haliburton threes—to erase a 107-103 deficit late in the fourth.
Up next, Cleveland visits the New York Knicks on Friday, while Indiana hosts the Orlando Magic.
