The Indiana Pacers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 129-109 on Sunday to seize a 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series in the Eastern Conference, delivering a devastating first-half performance that may have also cost the Cavs their star man.
Pascal Siakam led a balanced Indiana attack with 21 points as seven players hit double digits. But the damage was done early as the Pacers led 80-39 at halftime after a 17-0 second-quarter run stunned the top-seeded Cavs.
Worse still for the Cavs, Donovan Mitchell exited at the break with a left ankle injury after scoring just 12 points.
The explosive guard, who had back-to-back 40-point games, was ruled doubtful to return and will undergo an MRI on Monday.
Bennedict Mathurin was ejected in the first quarter for punching De’Andre Hunter, but the Pacers kept their focus. Myles Turner and Obi Toppin each added 20 points, while Tyrese Haliburton dazzled with a no-look assist and 11 points.
Cleveland shot just 8-of-38 in the first half and coughed up 22 turnovers, leading to 35 Pacers points.
Darius Garland led them with 21 points, but without Mitchell, the Cavaliers now face a must-win Game 5 at home on Tuesday.
