Pacers face Cavs in Round 2 after strong playoff start
The Pacers are hitting the road this weekend for an Eastern Conference Semifinal showdown with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Why it matters: Indiana will relinquish the home court advantage that proved beneficial all season as they attempt to take down the top-seeded Cavs.
State of play: The Pacers, led by All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, dispatched Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in five games.
The closing moments of the series included a Haliburton game winner in overtime that will probably play in Pacers highlight reels for years to come.
The Cavs, meanwhile, are coming off the most lopsided playoff series in NBA history, eviscerating the Miami Heat in four games by a total of 122 points.
The big picture: These are two of the league's most lethal offenses, with deep and flexible rosters, lights-out shooters and elite coaching. It'll be a high-scoring best-of-seven series.
Players to watch:
For the Pacers: Haliburton, whose height at the guard position (6'5") makes him one of the NBA's savviest passers. He'll be a handful on the perimeter for Cleveland defenders.
For the Cavs: Donovan Mitchell, who's currently tied with Michael Jordan — heard of him? — for the most consecutive 30-point performances in the first game of a playoff series. He'll be the solo leader if he drops 30 on Sunday.
Flashback: This is the fourth time the Pacers and Cavs have met in the NBA Playoffs.
The Pacers had a 3-1 record against Cleveland during the regular season.
Yes, but: Two of those wins happened during the final week of the regular season when the Cavs were resting many of their key starters.
👀 What we're watching: If the Pacers' deep bench can continue to be a difference maker.
Indiana has seven players averaging at least 10 points per game in the postseason.
💭 Justin's prediction: As someone who has called Central Indiana home for the past 21 years, I've supported the Pacers' strong season and Haliburton's late-game heroics.
But that ends now. I'm from Cleveland, and the first jersey I ever owned as a kid said " Nance 22" on the back.
Cavs in six — a polite prediction that hopefully won't get me cussed out by Pacers' fans during my next Kroger run.
💭 Axios Cleveland reporter Sam Allard's prediction: Cavs in six.
In the final week of the regular season, the Cavs' third string gave the Pacers' starters a run for their money. I like our chances at full strength.
The bottom line: Rocket Arena will be bumping as the Cavs seek their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance without LeBron James on the roster since 1992.
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