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Fans Stunned As Pacers Pull Rabbit Out of Hat vs. Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers looked to have the Indiana Pacers backed into a corner Tuesday night, taking a seven-point lead with 57.1 seconds to go.
When the game ended, the Pacers were 120–119 winners and the Cavaliers were wondering where precisely things had gone wrong. Hampered by an inability to inbound the basketball, Cleveland surrendered a go-ahead three-pointer to Indiana guard Tyrese Haliburton with one second to go.
Its suddenness, coming on the heels of two similarly thrilling playoff endings on Monday, had the NBA world buzzing.
Several observers noted the bitterness of the defeat in light of the Cavaliers' injuries.
I just continue to be dumbfounded by how unbelievable these playoffs have been.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) May 7, 2025
What a soul crushing way for the Cavs to go down after looking like they were going to get a win with three of their top seven guys, and two of three All-Stars, out.
Comparisons to past basketball collapses flew, including to Duke's in this year's men's Final Four.
That was a Duke level collapse. It’s like the Cavs were determined to find a way to lose.
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) May 7, 2025
It marked yet another victory for Haliburton, who has used his peers voting him as the NBA's most overrated player as motivation.
#Cavs fans chanted overrated at Tyrese Haliburton all night. He just showed them why Donovan Mitchell was trying to quiet them down.
— Ethan Sands (@EjElite1) May 7, 2025
A dagger over Ty Jerome to steal Game 2 on Cleveland's home court.
Even the world outside of basketball took notice.
Nah cavs omg! Tyrese lowkey a dog for that! Ts worked out too perfect for the pacers
— Mark Phillips (@SupremeDreams_1) May 7, 2025
Oklahoma City Thunder fans were empathetic.
Welcome to the heartbreaking three after free throw shenanigans club Cavs fans
— 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒆 🌩 (@Three_Cone) May 7, 2025
All in all, Cleveland fans were left searching for answers ahead of Game 3 Friday.
That is the most heartbreaking playoff loss I’ve ever experienced. I can’t believe it. I’m done for the night.
— jack (@TheCavsJack) May 7, 2025
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Patrick Andres is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in December 2022, having worked for The Blade, Athlon Sports, Fear the Sword and Diamond Digest. Andres has covered everything from zero-attendance Big Ten basketball to a seven-overtime college football game. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a double major in history .