Ang Indiana Pacers ay gumawa ng sports history kagabi sa NBA Playoffs 2025 matapos nilang i-eliminate ang top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers sa Game 5 ng kanilang Eastern Conference semifinals series, 114-105. Sa dramatic come-from-behind victory na ito, umabante na ang Pacers sa Eastern Conference Finals — pangalawang sunod na taon nilang makarating sa ganitong prestigious stage ng playoffs.
Si Tyrese Haliburton talaga ang naging ultimate x-factor at primary catalyst ng panalo, nagbuhos ng 31 points kasama ang 8 assists at 5 three-pointers. Hindi siya nagpatinag kahit pa lumamang ng hanggang 19 points ang Cavs sa first half. Sa halip, pinakita niya ang kanyang elite playmaking at clutch shooting sa crucial moments ng laro.
"We just stayed composed throughout everything," sabi ni Haliburton sa emotional post-game interview. "We never lost hope even when they had a big lead. We believed in each other, we trusted our system, and it showed in how we executed in the second half."
Hindi lang si Haliburton ang nagshine para sa Pacers. Malaking ambag din ang ginawa ni Pascal Siakam na may 21 points, 8 rebounds, at 3 steals. Ang kanyang veteran presence at championship experience ay ramdam na ramdam, especially sa fourth quarter kung saan siya nag-score ng 11 crucial points.
Si Andrew Nembhard naman ay nagstep-up din with 18 points, 6 assists, at perfect 4-for-4 shooting mula sa three-point line. Si Myles Turner ay naging defensive anchor sa loob, nagrecord ng 12 points, 9 rebounds, at 3 crucial blocks na nagpabagsak sa momentum ng Cavaliers.
"This is truly the essence of team basketball," sabi ni Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle. "Everyone contributed when needed. Our bench gave us quality minutes, our defense locked in when it mattered most, and we got the win on the biggest stage."
Sa kabila ng heroic efforts ni Donovan Mitchell para sa Cavaliers — nagbuhos siya ng 35 points at 7 rebounds — hindi ito naging sapat para i-extend ang series. Si Darius Garland ay nagcontribute ng 22 points pero nahirapan din siya sa shooting efficiency, going just 7-of-19 from the field.
Hirap ang Cleveland sa outside shooting sa buong series, lalo na sa three-point area kung saan bumagsak sila sa disappointing 25.7% sa buong series. Bukod pa rito, naapektuhan din sila ng untimely injuries kay Jarrett Allen at Caris LeVert, making it harder to keep up with Indiana's fast pace and relentless energy.
"Credit to Indiana, they played a hell of a series," pagamin ni Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff. "They showed why they're a championship-caliber team. They made the adjustments, executed better down the stretch, and they deserve to win."
Ang defensive transformation ng Pacers sa second half ay naging game-changer. After giving up 65 points sa first half, pinahirapan nila ang Cavaliers to just 40 points in the final two quarters. Pinaghandaan talaga nila ang pick-and-roll plays ni Mitchell at limited din ang second-chance opportunities ng Cavs.
"Defense really won the game for us," sabi ni veteran guard T.J. McConnell, na nagcontribute ng 8 points at 5 assists off the bench. "We know we can score, but the real challenge was stopping that kind of offensive powerhouse."
Ang panalo ng Pacers ay isang clear statement na handa na silang makipaglaban para sa NBA championship. Hindi lang ito fluke — pinakita nilang may depth, resilience, at composure ang kanilang lineup kahit sa high-pressure situations.
"We're not satisfied," sabi ni Tyrese Haliburton. "We're happy with the win but we know there's still a lot of work waiting. The job's not finished."
Habang pauwi na ang Cavaliers para sa early offseason, ang Pacers naman ay nagprepare na for either Boston Celtics o Miami Heat sa Eastern Conference Finals. With the way they're playing, mukhang exciting pa ang journey ng Indiana sa NBA Playoffs 2025.
"Nothing is impossible for this team," sabi ni Rick Carlisle. "We've proven the doubters wrong all season, and we're not done yet."
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