With 1.1 seconds left, Tyrese Haliburton made his own missed free throw and buried a 3-pointer, giving the visiting Indiana Pacers a 120-119 victory over the sluggish Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals and a commanding series lead.
With 57 seconds left, the Pacers extended their lead to 119-112 with two free throws, which the Pacers did on Tuesday. It became a one-possession game thanks to Aaron Nesmith and Pascal Siakam’s baskets, and Max Strus’ subsequent inbounds pass was taken.
With 12.4 seconds left, Haliburton made his first free throw to make the score 119-117 before making his second miss. After going 20 points down, he dribbled beyond the arc to make the 3-pointer that made Indiana’s comeback.
“We obviously got lucky,” said Rick Carlisle, the Pacers’ head coach. Ty scored yet another incredible shot to win the game. This is not often seen, let alone twice in a week. Tyrese, he once more prevailed. We have a lot of good fortune.
Haliburton remarked, “I’m at peace with my game.” It’s a special feeling, I can tell you, “I can’t possibly be trusted in these circumstances.” I’m making a lot of money playing a kids’ game, which I’m really enjoying doing.
Without three key players: NBA Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley (left ankle sprain), All-Star point guard Darius Garland (left big toe sprain), and key reserve De’Andre Hunter (right thumb sprain), Mitchell recorded 48 points, nine assists, five rebounds, and four steals for the top-seeded Cavaliers.
For the first time since 1996, Cleveland lost its first two home games in a best-of-three series matchup against the Knicks.
For the majority of the game, we outlasted them, but we ran out of gas, according to Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson. We were unable to separate ourselves. They simply increased their physicality with each possession.
Carlisle remarked, “It’s difficult to sum up everything.” “Cleveland delivered a hellacious punch to our early in the match. We just kept going through the fourth. We kept up the pressure to accomplish it. Give credit to the men; they somehow came up with a solution.
In the fourth quarter, Haliburton scored 11 of his 19 points, along with Nesmith and Myles Turner, who each had 23. Fourth-seeded Indiana finished with 19 points and Nembhard made 13 points, 13 assists, and 7 rebounds, as well as eight turnovers.
In a thrilling performance, Mitchell, a six-time All-Star, scored 12 points in the first, 3rd, and 4th. He set career highs in free throws attempted and made on 15 of his 30 field goals and made 17 of his 21 field goals attempts.
Carlisle remarked, “Mitchell had a heroic game.” We’re still deeper than them, though. We probably wore them down, in my opinion.
Haliburton remarked, “Everyone was tired, but they were tired.” According to the author, “The wear-down effect had a lot to do with it.”
The Cavaliers, who led 81-61 midway through the third period, scored 23 points and added 12 rebounds. Sam Merrill added 14 shots off the bench.
“We outplayed them for the majority of the game, and then we developed mental lapses,” Allen said. “Now, will we be able to replicate it?” asks the question. At the end, they capitalized on every error we made.
On four consecutive possessions that weren’t deemed fouls, power forward Mobley and Hunter were both injured on Sunday in Game 1. Garland hasn’t played since April 23 when the Heat host.
Hunter dislocated his thumb as he fell after Mathurin blocked his dunk as Mobley landed on Turner’s foot as the latter slid under him on a shot.
After practicing and the game on Monday, Atkinson, who was named NBA Coach of the Year earlier this week, expressed his frustration in three-minute responses, which were received by Carlisle.
Nobody wants to see players hurt, Carlisle said. That “stranges the hell out of us.”
Indianapolis will host Game 3 of the best-of-seven series on Friday.
Source: Aljazeera
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