Pacers hold off Cavaliers to reach Eastern Conference Finals as potential Knicks rematch looms

The Pacers are moving on. 

Indiana toppled the Cavaliers 114-105 on Tuesday night in Cleveland, despite a late-game push by the Eastern Conference’s top seed that narrowed the gap to just three in the final two minutes, to send the Pacers to their second consecutive Eastern Conference Finals. 

Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, left, celebrates along with forward Pascal Siakam after scoring during the second half of the Pacers’ 114-105 Game 5 series-clinching win over the Cavaliers on May 13, 2025. AP

Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton finished the night with a team-high 31 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field. Indiana outscored the top-seeded Cavaliers 62-49 in the second half

The victory is the first domino to fall in setting up a potential Pacers-Knicks rematch in the conference finals, something that hasn’t happened in 25 years. 

Tyrese Haliburton (left) talks with Donovan Mitchell after the Pacers’ Game 5 series-clinching win over the Cavaliers. AP

The Knicks lead the Celtics 3-1 in their series with Game 5 set for Wedneday in Boston.

Should the Knicks and Pacers square off in the Eastern Conference finals, the Knicks would hold home-court advantage with Games 1 and 2 taking place at Madison Square Garden.