Nobody expected Indiana to embark on another deep playoff run — let alone reach the Eastern Conference Finals again — except for themselves.
Just as the doubts continue to pile on throughout the regular season and even the postseason about their status as legitimate title contenders, the Pacers just found more reasons to silence their critics.
“This group is special,” superstar Tyrese Haliburton told reporters after Indiana knocked off the 64-win Cleveland Cavaliers squad in Game 5 to wrap up their semifinal series.
"It's a special feeling... this group is special."@TyHaliburton22 (31 PTS, 6 3PM) sounds off postgame after the Pacers clinched a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals for the second-straight year 💯
— NBA (@NBA) May 14, 2025
It marked the first time since the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons that the Pacers made it to the East Finals in back-to-back years.
They also became the first team in playoff history to make consecutive trips to the conference Finals despite not being seeded no. 4 or higher.
[ALSO READ: Tyrese Haliburton-led Pacers close out Cavaliers in Game 5, advance to East Finals]
“I have to give our guys credit, they earned this,” Indiana head coach Carlisle spoke in the post-game press conference.
Haliburton fired a team-high 31 points — his first 30-point game of this year’s playoffs — to banner another riveting Pacers comeback on the road.
Cleveland jumped out of the gates to take a 31-19 lead after the opening frame and even built a 44-25 cushion midway through the second quarter. But Haliburton caught fire and dropped 17 points that kept Indiana within striking distance at halftime.
“We didn't panic after that rough start to the first quarter. We talked about how we knew that they were going to throw a haymaker there. But I thought we weathered the storm the right way and got going from there," the 25-year-old insisted.
Indiana then outscored Cleveland, 62-49, in the second half to clinch their third road win of the series and fourth overall.
“Winning a closeout game on the road is extremely difficult,” Carlisle added.
The Pacers didn’t mind at all as the rest of their starters supplied the much-needed offense to their star playmaker.
Pascal Siakam chipped in 21 points, Andrew Nembhard logged 18 markers, while Aaron Nesmith and Myles Turner added 13 and 10, respectively.
“We're different from every other team in the NBA. We just don’t have one guy who scores all the points. We defeat teams in different ways,” Haliburton added.
“We’re different than every other team in the NBA. We don't just have one guy who scores all the points."
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 14, 2025
Tyrese Haliburton on our unique style of play 💨
Now, Indiana awaits the winner of the New York-Boston series. The Knicks hold a 3-1 lead with a chance to oust the defending champions in their own home turf in Game 5 on Thursday (PH time), May 15.
“We just have to keep believing. We have a group of guys who are committed to one another. We have a formula that works for us,” Carlisle bared.
Haliburton added: “We’re not done. We still got ways to go. We just need to be ready for whosoever next.”
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 14, 2025
