Indiana strikes first: Pacers stun top-seeded Cavs in series opener

The Indiana Pacers came out swinging in Game 1 vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers, scoring 36 in the first quarter and taking a 64-58 lead into halftime.

The hero for the Pacers in the first round, Tyrese Haliburton, scored nine points in the first half for Indiana. For the Cavs, star Donovan Mitchell had a solid first half, scoring 15 points, but he had a -13 plus-minus rating while on the court.

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The Pacers kept their foot on the pedal as they controlled most of the second half, eventually outscoring the top-seeded Cavaliers 29-22 in the fourth quarter.

The Pacers struck first, taking Game 1, 121-112 behind Haliburton’s 22 points and 13 assists, while Andrew Nembhard led the team with 23 points. Mitchell ended up with a game-high 33 points but was a -19 plus-minus.

Mitchell shot just 13-30 from the field, including 1-11 from three. If the number one-seeded Cavaliers want to get back into the series, they need Mitchell to shoot much better in Game 2.

About the Author Published May 4, 2025

TITAN FREY

Titan Frey is a dedicated father to three wonderful children, whom he takes immense pride in. His passions include reading, writing, basketball, both playing and watching, and playing chess. Titan spent five years working as a journalist for the basketball website fadeawayworld.net, where he served as editor-in-chief for four and a half years. One of his most notable achievements was interviewing Chuck Cooper III, the son of Chuck Cooper, the first African American ever drafted by an NBA team, and writing a biography that has been praised as the most definitive article about Cooper’s legacy. Titan is the author of more than ten novels and the screenwriter of three produced short films. His newest young adult novel, Echoes of the Hardwood: Braxton Foxworthy’s Time‑Travelling Book Report, blends basketball history with heartfelt storytelling and is now available. Order here: https://a.co/d/bo7BYz1