Pacers Shock Cavaliers with Late Comeback to Win Game 2
The Indiana Pacers pulled off a stunning late comeback to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 120-119 in Game 2 of their NBA playoff series on Tuesday night, leaving the top-seeded Cavs in serious trouble.
Despite holding a seven-point lead with just 48 seconds left, the Cavaliers collapsed as Indiana scored the final eight points of the game to steal the win. The series now moves to Indianapolis with the Pacers holding a 2-0 lead, and the Cavaliers battling key injuries.
Cleveland were already missing All-Stars Evan Mobley and Darius Garland, along with key bench player De’Andre Hunter — and their availability for Game 3 remains uncertain.
Pacers Make History with Grit and Fight
Teams leading by seven points in the final 48 seconds of a playoff game had won 1,679 times and lost just twice before Tuesday. Remarkably, the Pacers now own two of those rare wins, the other coming just last week against Milwaukee.
Indiana once again showed resilience under pressure, with Aaron Nesmith playing a key role. The 25-year-old scored a playoff career-high 23 points, including 15 in the second half. His putback dunk and drawn offensive foul in the closing seconds helped spark Indiana’s winning run.
Mitchell Shines – But It’s Not Enough
Donovan Mitchell was brilliant for Cleveland, scoring 48 points and providing 9 assists. He dominated in the paint and hit 17 of 21 free throws, trying to carry his injury-hit team. But despite his efforts, Cleveland couldn’t hold on in the final moments.
This defeat adds more pressure on Mitchell, who has now reached the second round four times in his career but has never advanced further. With the Cavaliers down 0-2 and struggling with injuries, history may repeat itself.
Mistakes Cost Cleveland
Max Strus had a strong game with 23 points, but his second-half performance faltered. His most costly error came with 24.7 seconds remaining — a careless inbound pass that was easily stolen by Indiana’s Andrew Nembhard, setting up the Pacers’ game-winning surge.
Turnovers Still an Issue for Indiana
Despite the win, Indiana committed 18 turnovers — their biggest weakness so far in the series. They had nine in the first quarter alone, falling behind by 17 points early. If Cleveland are to find a way back, punishing those mistakes will be key.
Game 3 is set for Friday in Indianapolis, where the Pacers will try to extend their lead and the Cavaliers will hope to keep their playoff dreams alive.
