Cavaliers, Pacers Set for Eastern Conference Semifinal Series

The Indiana Pacers advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals after a dramatic 4-1 series win over the Milwaukee Bucks, capped by an overtime victory secured by Tyrese Haliburton’s clutch performance. This sets up a semifinal showdown with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who swept the Miami Heat and hold home court advantage as the Eastern Conference’s top seed. Both teams enter the series with strong recent form—the Cavaliers are favored due to their offensive depth and home advantage, while the Pacers have demonstrated improved defense and resilience, overcoming skepticism about their playoff legitimacy. The matchup, which begins at Cleveland’s Rocket Arena, is expected to be closely contested, with ticket prices ranging widely for fans eager to attend. Pacers players, motivated to prove critics wrong about their playoff success, are focused on continuing their high-level play and challenging the favored Cavaliers. The series marks the first playoff meeting between the Pacers and Cavaliers since 2018.