CLEVELAND, Ohio – Fans witnessed a thrilling contest with a dramatic finish as Indiana edged out Cleveland, 120-119, in Game 2 of their playoff matchup.
“I’m still in shock, partner,” Greg Anthony told Spero Dedes at the final buzzer. The intensity of the game was such that even broadcasters covering the following Golden State–Minnesota matchup commented on how transformative the three-point shot has become.
Broadcast Team:
Play-by-play: Spero Dedes
Color analyst: Greg Anthony
Sideline: Jared Greenberg
Game Summary
Top-seeded Cleveland was trying to recover after a surprising 121-112 loss in Game 1. Tuesday’s focus was how the Cavaliers would perform without key injured players Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, and De’Andre Hunter. While the fans at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse brought plenty of energy, the commentators seemed more restrained, as did TNT’s typically lively halftime crew of Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley.
By the Numbers:
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Last season, the Cavs went 14-3 without Mobley and Garland.
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Cleveland surged ahead with a 23-6 run late in the first quarter, leading 27-15.
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Jarrett Allen’s free throws at 7:57 in the second quarter marked the team’s 10th and 11th – both successful.
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Max Strus nailed four three-pointers in the first half.
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Donovan Mitchell missed all four of his three-point tries before halftime.
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Mitchell attempted 18 shots in the first half – his most in any half this season.
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Ty Jerome was just 1-for-12 by the 5:15 mark of the third quarter.
Notable Quotes:
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“That’s an advantage the Cavs have that the Pacers don’t. They’ve got a guy that can consistently win one-on-one matchups,” Anthony said of Mitchell, who had scored early and drawn a foul.
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“Boy, he’s taking some punishment,” Dedes remarked as Mitchell repeatedly hit the floor on drives.
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“Max Strus, he has been deadly tonight… Cavaliers answering the bell,” Dedes exclaimed after Strus extended Cleveland’s lead in the second quarter.
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“How good is that supporting cast… great contributions from everybody,” Anthony praised as the Cavs had eight players score and four in double figures despite missing stars.
Key Foreshadowing:
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“What a ragged offensive start for the Cavs… Something about this Pacers team, they start to smell blood,” Dedes warned as Indiana narrowed the lead.
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“You could feel the nervousness in this building,” Dedes added late in the fourth as the Pacers continued to close the gap.
Top Reaction:
“Who-hoo-hoo-hoo,” Anthony shouted after Mitchell dunked over Siakam, prompting fans to chant “Overrated” as Siakam exited just before halftime.
Visual Highlights:
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Beautiful sunset shots of downtown Cleveland and Lake Erie added atmosphere. The arena’s updated look stood out in third-quarter shots, a reminder of its 2019 renovation.
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A graphic highlighted previous playoff series between these teams: Indiana (1998, 3-1), Cleveland (2017, 4-0), and Cleveland (2018, 4-3).
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Cameras spotted Browns star Myles Garrett in attendance.
Mitchell, who was frequently knocked down throughout the game, led all scorers with 48 points.
Broadcast Hits:
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Anthony insightfully noted that Allen was visibly fatigued late in the third, prompting Atkinson to sub him out just seconds later. At that point, Allen had played more minutes than anyone else.
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Both commentators emphasized how crucial Mitchell’s explosive first step is in isolation situations.
A Few Misses:
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Anthony criticized Siakam for a late foul, though it appeared to be Mitchell skillfully drawing contact – a savvy move that helped stretch the Cavs’ lead.
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TNT missed showing Halliburton’s first free throw with 12.4 seconds left due to a replay being aired at the time.
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