The Cleveland Cavaliers finally know who they’ll be playing in the second round of the NBA Playoffs. While the full schedule hasn’t been released yet, we know it’ll begin on Sunday, May 4.
The Indiana Pacers completed their gentleman’s sweep of the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night with a 119-118 overtime victory in Game 5.
The Pacers overcame multiple deficits to pull of the victory. This included an early 20-point first-half hole, being down four with just under a minute left in regulation, and trailing by seven with 40 seconds left in overtime.
Tyrese Haliburton did what stars are supposed to do late in the fourth quarter. He got to the free-throw line to make it a two-point game with 40 seconds left in regulation. Then, with 11 seconds left, he drove for a game-tying dunk.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had a chance to break the tie at the buzzer, but his low-percentage fadeaway 17-footer over two defenders didn’t go.
Haliburton hit a three on the first overtime possession. It seemed like Indiana was going to roll through the extra frame just like they did the final minute of the fourth quarter, but the Bucks fought back. They responded with a 9-0 run to retake the lead.
A late three from Gary Trent Jr., a timely basket inside from Antetokounmpo, and a free-throw from AJ Green gave Milwaukee a seven-point lead with 40 seconds left. It was a lead that even they should’ve been able to hold onto.
But, there’s a reason why this Bucks team has been ousted in the first round three seasons in a row.
The Pacers hit timely shots, but this was about the Bucks’ collapse. They turned it over twice in a row, committed an unnecessary shooting foul on a Haliburton drive, and then played the worst defense you could imagine with your season on the line in the final possession.
Haliburton showed up late. He scored 14 points in the fourth quarter and overtime in what was a ho-hum game by his standards through three quarters.
Pascal Siakam struggled all evening. He provided just 10 points on 5-11 shooting to go along with four rebounds, an assist, and two turnovers.
Antetokounmpo was outstanding in what could be his last game in a Bucks uniform. He put together a 30-point triple-double with 20 boards and 13 assists.
The stage is now set for a second-round matchup between the Cavs and Pacers.
Indiana won three out of four games against Cleveland this season. But how much you can take from those games is up to you. Both teams split their pair of games in January. Then, they met twice more in the final week of the regular season after the Cavs had already clinched the one seed.
The Cavaliers didn’t play any of their starters in the second half of either of their last two losses.
Cleveland had chances to win their first April meeting after great performances from Ty Jerome (24 points) and De’Andre Hunter (23), but Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson pulled all of his rotation players late in the fourth. He closed with a lineup featuring Tristan Thompson, Javonte Green, Craig Porter Jr, Jaylon Tyson, and Isaac Okoro.
Neither team played any of their regulars in the final April game, which resulted in an overtime win for Indiana.
The full schedule for the second round hasn’t been announced yet. Game 1 will be Sunday in Cleveland.
