The Indiana Pacers stunned the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, winning Game 5 114-105 to clinch the Eastern Conference semi-final series 4-1.
Tyrese Haliburton scored 31 for the Pacers, who reach the East Finals for the second straight year. Coach Rick Carlisle hailed his team’s timely performance against a “perfect” Cavaliers team.
Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell, who scored 35, lamented letting the city down. Indiana will face either Boston or New York in the finals.
In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder moved to the brink of the finals with a 112-105 Game 5 victory over the Denver Nuggets.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 for the Thunder, overcoming a 44-point effort from Denver’s Nikola Jokic.
Coach Mark Daigneault lauded Gilgeous-Alexander’s composure. The Thunder lead the series 3-2 and can clinch it Friday in Denver.
