Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

NBA Playoffs Pacers vs. Cavaliers Game 4: Pacers Humiliate Cavs with 80-Point First Half Outburst, One Win Away to Reach Conference Finals

Indiana had a 80-39 lead at halftime and they tied for the biggest halftime lead in the playoff history.

Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

The Indiana Pacers once again exposed the Cleveland Cavaliers, the top seed in Eastern Conference, and secured a commanding 3-1 lead after a 129-109 win in the conference semifinals Game 4 on Sunday. Pacers held a 41-point lead at halftime and it could have been a bigger loss for the Cavaliers but they reduced the deficit in second half.

Pascal Siakam scored 21 points for the Pacers. Myles Turner and Obi Toppin added 20 points each. 7 Indiana players recorded in double figures. Indiana did all the damage without Bennedict Mathurin, who ejected in first quarter for striking De’Andre Hunter. For the Cavs, Donoval Mitchell left the game due to a left ankle injury.

PACERS TAKE 3-1 SERIES LEAD ON A DOMINANT PERFORMANCE AT HOME 🔥💯

Siakam: 21 PTS, 9-10 FGM, 6 REB
Turner: 20 PTS, 4-4 3PM, 7 REB
Toppin: 20 PTS, 9-14 FGM, 5 REB pic.twitter.com/B2wNary2fu
— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2025

Also Read: Indiana Pacers Set Several NBA Playoff Records After First-Half Explosion vs. Cavaliers in Game 4

Indiana Pacers Inching Towards Second Successive Conference Finals Appearance

Indian Pacers will head to Ohio to wrap up the series 4-1 and qualify for the second straight conference finals. Last year, they faced a defeat against the eventual winners, Boston Celtics in the conference finals. Indiana’s Game 4 brilliance started in the first quarter when they outscored the Cavaliers 38-23. They again got a 42-16 scoring edge in the second quarter which eventually helped them to clinch the game.

During the first half, the Cavaliers had a terrible shooting as they were 25% from the floor and 26.3% from the 3-point range. The Pacers led the offense in opening half with 60% shooting from the floor and 66.7% from 3-point range.

THIS PACERS FLURRY TO END THE 1ST HALF WAS CRAZY ‼️😱

80 PTS: franchise-postseason record for points in a half
25 AST: NBA-postseason record for assists in a half in the play-by-play era (1998) pic.twitter.com/bLZoxTuND0
— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2025

Indiana had a 80-39 lead at halftime and they tied for the biggest halftime lead in the playoff history. The Pacers matched the Cavaliers, who set the record against the Celtics in Game 2 of the 2017 conference finals. It was also the 10th instance overall in the NBA history when a team scored 80 or more points in a playoff game. Indiana Pacers set a franchise record for the most first-half points.

The Cavaliers lost Donovan Mitchell in the second half because of a left ankle injury but damage was already done. The All-Star guard, who scored 17 points in Game 4, would have an MRI exam Monday. Darius Garland led the Cavaliers with 21 points and helped his team to reduce the losing margin in second half. The Cavs outscored the Pacers 70-49 in the second half and cut the 41-point deficit to 20 points.

Also Read: Donovan Mitchell Injury Update – What Happened to Donovan Mitchell During Game 4 Against the Pacers?

Cavaliers also improved their shooting in the final two quarters but committed 22 turnovers in the game. The Pacers outscored them 58-32 in the paint. The Cavaliers mostly relied on free throws as they recorded 35 free-throws in Game 4 which is a franchise record for them. Cleveland will require a solid comeback to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the series like they did in the 2016 NBA finals.

Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

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A native of Jaipur, Rajasthan, journalist, and a complete soccer and basketball fan, he found the huge interest with basketball by watching videos of Allen Iverson and Tony Parker, but fell head over heels in love with the sport during the Warriors’ championship era (2015-2018). A sports game addict since his late PS1, he’s also passionate about the Eagles, Inter Miami and the Fever. He’s fortunate to have seen all his favorite teams win championships. He also has a special love for cricket and football (soccer), where he is a fan of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Barcelona.