Pacers dominate Cavaliers 129-109, taking a 3-1 series lead after building a 41-point halftime advantage.

Indiana Pacers' commanding victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals series, with a final score of 129-109, underscores their dominance and strategic prowess. This win not only propelled the Pacers to a 3-1 series lead but also featured a record-tying 41-point halftime advantage (80-39), making it one of the most significant performances in NBA playoff history . The disparity in scoring at halftime reflects the Pacers' effective offensive execution and defensive tenacity, which included forcing 14 turnovers from the Cavaliers.

The No. 4-seeded Pacers can close it out Tuesday in Cleveland, where they’ve already won twice.

“We haven’t done anything yet,” coach Rick Carlisle said after earning his 33rd playoff win with Indiana, passing Larry Bird for the most in the franchise’s NBA history. “We’re going to keep approaching this like we have everything to prove. We know people don’t believe in us, so we’re just going to stay in the fight and keep fighting.”

Pacers certainly showed some resolve two days after an embarrassing 22-point loss on their home court, a game in which Cleveland dominated the glass and held two-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton to four points and five assists.

It’s also the 10th time in playoff history any team has scored 80 points in a half. Oklahoma City did it most recently, with 87 points in Game 2 against Denver earlier this week.

The Pacers dominated the first two quarters, shooting 60% from the field and making 12 of 18 3-pointers while posting 25 assists. Cleveland shot 25% from the field, had only three assists and only three players with more than one made basket.

Aaron Nesmith's buzzer-beating midrange jumper put the Pacers in another exclusive club — the 10th team in playoff history and second this week to score 80 points in the first half of a playoff game. Oklahoma City scored 87 points in Game 2 against Denver.

Pascal Siakam leading the charge with 21 points while Myles Turner and Obi Toppin each added 20 points . Despite an early ejection of Bennedict Mathurin, the Pacers maintained their composure and exploited weaknesses in Cleveland's defense throughout the game. Coach Rick Carlisle emphasized that his team would not become complacent despite their substantial lead; instead, they would approach Game 5 as if they had everything to prove .

This mindset is crucial for maintaining momentum as they head into a potentially series-clinching Game 5. The Cavaliers faced additional challenges with Donovan Mitchell suffering an injury during this contest, raising concerns about his availability for future games. Overall, this matchup exemplifies how strategic adjustments and strong performances can significantly influence playoff outcomes in professional basketball.

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Sarah H

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