Cleveland Cavaliers vs Indiana Pacers

Two victories from advancing to the Eastern Conference finals, the Indiana Pacers return to their home court for Game Three against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, aiming to secure a commanding 3-0 series lead.

The Cavaliers, on the other hand, face a daunting challenge in Indianapolis as they strive for NBA success, with another loss pushing them to the edge of elimination.

After a surprising win in the series opener, the Pacers entered Game Two on Wednesday with a chance to tighten their grip and did so with a dramatic 120-119 victory. Trailing by 17 after the first quarter, Rick Carlisle’s squad steadily fought back, narrowing the gap to seven with under a minute left. They then unleashed eight unanswered points in the final 58 seconds to stun the crowd at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.

Tyrese Haliburton contributed four of those crucial points, including a game-winning three-pointer, adding to his standout performances despite being labeled the league’s most overrated player in an anonymous player poll.

Mirroring their remarkable comeback against the Bucks in Game Five of the first round, the Pacers have now overcome a seven-point deficit in the final 48 seconds of a playoff game twice in just over a week—a feat achieved only once in 385 postseason attempts over the past two decades. This resilience complements their dynamic, fast-paced style.

Undefeated at home in the playoffs with a 3-0 record, the Pacers have a golden opportunity on Saturday to move one step closer to their second straight conference finals appearance.

The Cavaliers, who boasted a conference-leading 64-18 record in the regular season and swept the Miami Heat in the first round, were heavy favorites entering this series. Despite holding a 20-point lead and controlling 42 of the 48 minutes in Game Two, they faltered in the closing moments, suffering one of the most heartbreaking playoff losses in franchise history.

If Atkinson's team wants to get to the conference finals for the first time in seven years—when LeBron led them to the East title—they have a difficult task ahead of them with two games remaining.

Mitchell scored 48 points on 15–30 shooting while his all-star backcourt mate Garland was unavailable. However, it was all in vain, and the shooting guard, who has now lost three of his four 45-point playoff games, was furious.

Given how they lost their last game, the Cavaliers will need to muster their forces for Game Three on Saturday and take heart from the fact that they haven't lost three straight since March.