The Indiana Pacers recorded a 114-112 win against the undermanned Cleveland Cavaliers to secure a Top 4 seed and homecourt advantage for the first round of the 2025 playoffs.
Tyrese Haliburton led with 23 points, eight rebounds, 10 assists, three blocks, and four three-pointers on 8-for-16 shooting from the field. Aaron Nesmith, Jarace Walker, Bennedict Mathurin, Myles Turner, Obi Toppin, and Pascal Siakam added 22, 15, 13, 13, 10, and 10 points.
Last night marked the 107th consecutive game the Indiana Pacers recorded at least 100 points at home, breaking the San Antonio Spurs’ record set between 1978 and 1981.
Indiana also recorded their 49th win this season, their most in a campaign since 2013-14. They will likely face the Milwaukee Bucks in a rematch of last year’s first round.
How the Indiana Pacers secured homecourt advantage
The Indiana Pacers have been successful this season because they boast one of the best offenses in the NBA. They average just under 119 points per game at home – good for fifth in the NBA – on 50 percent shooting. On the road, they average just under 116 points per game on 48.1 percent shooting.
“I’m just really proud of our group and how we’ve been able to change the direction of our season,” Haliburton said via Jordan Morey of Pacers.com.
“It’s a big deal for us. We don’t take that lightly. We understand we’ve never been in this situation…having home court going into the playoffs, it’s a whole different type of responsibility we have to be prepared for,” he added.
