Pacers Stun Cavs with Late Rally as Warriors Claim Game 1 Win Despite Curry Injury

The Indiana Pacers pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 120-119 in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal matchup, while the Golden State Warriors overcame a key injury to star guard Stephen Curry to take an early lead in their Western Conference series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In Cleveland, Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton drained a dramatic 24-foot three-pointer with just 1.1 seconds remaining to complete a rally from 20 points down and give the fourth-seeded Pacers a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Haliburton’s late-game heroics capped off a 10-2 run in the final minute after Cleveland looked poised to even the series.

Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with a standout 48-point performance, nearly carrying an injury-depleted roster to victory. Cleveland was without key starters Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and De’Andre Hunter, and the fatigue showed in the closing stages. Max Strus hit five three-pointers for the Cavs and finished with 23 points, while Jarrett Allen added 22.

“We played from behind the whole game,” said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle. “But in the fourth quarter we just hung in there. Our group believes in each other and just keeps fighting.”

Six Pacers finished in double figures, with Aaron Nesmith and Myles Turner scoring 23 points each. Haliburton ended with 19 points, including the game-winner.

Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson admitted his team ran out of steam late. “We outplayed them for most of the game, but every possession, they just upped their physicality,” he said. “We ran out of gas.”

Game 3 shifts to Indianapolis on Friday.

Meanwhile, in Minneapolis, the Warriors outlasted the Timberwolves 99-88 in a gritty, defensive Game 1 despite losing Curry to a left hamstring injury in the second quarter. The All-Star guard did not return and will undergo an MRI on Wednesday.

Golden State leaned on their three-point shooting to secure the win, converting 18 of 42 attempts from beyond the arc. Buddy Hield led the scoring with 24 points, including five three-pointers, while Jimmy Butler added 20 and Draymond Green chipped in 18.

The Timberwolves struggled offensively, hitting just five of 29 three-point attempts. Anthony Edwards had a quiet night with 23 points and only one triple.

“We want Steph back — it’s hard playing without that man,” Butler said postgame. Warriors coach Steve Kerr acknowledged Curry is unlikely to play in Game 2 on Thursday. “With a hamstring, it’s hard to imagine he would play,” Kerr said. “But the guys picked him up and played a great game.”

Both series continue later this week as the postseason intensity rises.