The Indiana Pacers steamrolled the Cleveland Cavaliers 129-109 on Sunday to grab a commanding 3-1 lead of their Eastern Conference semifinal sequence, whereas the Oklahoma City Thunder muscled previous the Denver Nuggets 92-87 to degree the Western showdown at 2-2.
It was all Indiana in Indianapolis.
The Pacers blitzed Cleveland with a 17-0 second-quarter run en path to an 80-39 halftime lead, leaving the top-seeded Cavaliers shocked and scrambling.
Pascal Siakam poured in 21 factors and led a balanced assault with seven Indiana gamers in double digits.
Myles Turner and Obi Toppin chipped in 20 apiece, and Tyrese Haliburton added 11, together with a no-look dime that set the house crowd roaring.
But it was extra than simply offense – the Pacers compelled 22 Cleveland turnovers and transformed them into 35 factors.
Cleveland’s hopes dimmed additional when star guard Donovan Mitchell, who had erupted for back-to-back 40-point nights earlier within the sequence, limped off with a left ankle damage after managing simply 12 first-half factors.
He was dominated uncertain at halftime and can endure an MRI Monday. His availability for Game 5 stays unsure.
Tempers flared early. Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin was ejected within the first quarter after punching De’Andre Hunter within the chest. Hunter and Turner each picked up technicals through the scuffle.
“This is a group that responds to adversity,” Turner mentioned. “We got punched in the mouth last game, and we punched back harder.”
Game 5 heads again to Cleveland on Tuesday – with the Cavs on the ropes and doubtlessly with out their greatest participant.
Thunder flip protection into survival
In Denver, factors got here at a premium in a bruising, low-scoring brawl.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 25 factors, six rebounds, and 6 assists as Oklahoma City clawed out a gritty Game 4 win. Neither facet discovered offensive rhythm – OKC shot simply 35.6%, whereas the Nuggets fared worse at 31.3%.
But it was the Thunder who made the sport’s largest performs down the stretch.
After trailing by as many as eight within the fourth quarter, OKC surged forward on a clutch Cason Wallace three-pointer with 8:35 remaining.
From there, they locked down defensively, holding Denver to simply 18 factors within the closing interval.
“We got stops when it mattered,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “It wasn’t pretty, but it was enough.”
Nikola Jokic posted 27 factors and 13 boards, however the reigning MVP lacked assist. Jamal Murray and Christian Braun every scored 17 for Denver, who appeared to expire of fuel lower than 48 hours after an time beyond regulation win in Game 3.
“I thought both teams had tired legs,” mentioned Nuggets coach David Adelman. “In a really ugly basketball game, they made just enough plays.”
Game 5 shifts to Oklahoma City on Tuesday, the place the Thunder will look to experience momentum in a sequence that’s turn out to be a battle of attrition.
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