Haliburton, Pacers to Face Cavs in Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers will face the Cleveland Cavaliers for a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals after the Pacers eliminated the Milwaukee Bucks 4-1 and the Cavaliers swept the Miami Heat. Despite being voted the NBA's most overrated player in an anonymous poll, Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton has drawn praise from analysts and the Cavaliers for his scoring and elite playmaking, especially following his game-winning effort in Game 5. Cavaliers players and coaches have identified Haliburton as their primary focus, calling him one of the league's toughest covers. Analysts point to Haliburton's consistent, cerebral approach and lack of flashy highlights as reasons for the disconnect between his reputation among peers and his on-court impact. The Cavaliers plan to focus on containing Haliburton and maintaining their strong three-point shooting, while the Pacers aim to continue their postseason momentum. Haliburton remains confident and committed to team success despite outside criticism.