Pacers construct 41-point halftime lead, rout Cavs 129-109 for 3-1 collection lead

Pascal Siakam scored 21 factors and the Indiana Pacers tied an NBA playoff document by taking a 41-point halftime lead earlier than routing the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, 129-109, for a 3-1 lead within the Jap Convention semifinals.

The Pacers can earn a second straight journey to the East finals with a victory Tuesday in Cleveland, the place they received the primary two video games.

Indiana jumped to an 80-39 lead at halftime and led by 44 factors. The 41-point lead matched the margin Cleveland set in Recreation 2 of the 2017 Jap Convention finals towards Boston, based on Sportradar.

And Indiana did it largely with out Bennedict Mathurin, considered one of its high playoff scorers, who was ejected simply 7 1/2 minutes into the sport for a flagrant foul.

Darius Garland led the Cavs with 21 factors and Donovan Mitchell had 17 factors regardless of not enjoying within the second half due to a left ankle damage. Coach Kenny Atkinson stated his All-Star guard would have an MRI examination on Monday.

For the Pacers, it was a redeeming second in entrance of a towel-waving dwelling crowd simply two days after an embarrassing 22-point loss on its dwelling courtroom. The Cavs dominated the glass, held two-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton to 4 factors and 5 assists and fought more durable than Indiana.

This time, the Pacers left little question about who could be the aggressor.

Indiana took management shortly with early runs of 11-2 and 13-0 to construct a commanding 48-23 lead with 9:24 left within the first half. They did not cease — or again down — there, both, closing the half on a 19-2 run.

Aaron Nesmith’s buzzer-beating midrange jumper put the Pacers in one other unique membership — the tenth crew in playoff historical past and second this week to attain 80 factors within the first half of a playoff sport. Oklahoma Metropolis scored 87 factors in Recreation 2 towards Denver.

Myles Turner made all 4 of his 3-point makes an attempt and scored 20 factors, as did Obi Toppin.

Reporting by The Related Press.

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