Pacers take 2-0 lead after tight Game 2 win vs Cavaliers
Tyrese Haliburton completed the Indiana Pacers’ thrilling comeback by knocking down a clutch three-pointer late in the fourth quarter, lifting his team to a dramatic 120-119 win over the No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, May 7 (PH time) at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
Haliburton finished with 19 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and a block in a well-rounded performance that proved vital in helping Indiana take a commanding 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference Semifinals series. The All-Star guard shot a perfect 2-of-2 from beyond the arc, with his final triple sealing the game and silencing the Cleveland crowd.
Aaron Nesmith and Myles Turner provided strong offensive support, scoring 23 markers apiece to keep the Pacers within striking distance throughout the night. Bennedict Mathurin added 19 points off the bench, while Andrew Nembhard and Pascal Siakam chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively, showcasing Indiana's balanced scoring attack.
Despite the loss, Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell delivered an incredible individual performance, erupting for 48 points on a high-efficiency shooting night. He also contributed five rebounds, nine assists, four steals, and a block, doing everything he could to keep Cleveland afloat.
Jarrett Allen also stepped up for the Cavaliers with 22 markers, 12 boards, three dimes, and three rejections, anchoring the paint on both ends. But the supporting cast couldn’t provide enough firepower in the closing minutes to hold off the surging Pacers.
Cleveland came out firing and looked poised to dominate early, building a 17-point cushion at 32-17 in the first quarter. Indiana showed signs of life in the second, trimming the deficit to 11 by halftime. However, the Cavaliers once again seized momentum in the third, extending their lead to 14 heading into the final quarter.
But just when it seemed like the game was slipping away, the Pacers dug deep. With their defense tightening and shots beginning to fall, they chipped away at the lead possession by possession. The final blow came when Haliburton found just enough space to drain a three-pointer in the closing seconds—a shot that would ultimately decide the game.
With the win, Indiana takes a 2-0 series lead back home, placing Cleveland in a must-win situation heading into Game 3.
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San Miguel Beermen made a statement in Game 4 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals, against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 107-82, on Wednesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena to even the best-of-seven series at 2-2.
CJ Perez spearheaded the charge with a near-complete performance, tallying 19 points, five rebounds, seven assists, a steal, and a block in almost 35 minutes of action. His energy sparked a game-changing 17-0 run in the fourth quarter that broke the game wide open for the Beermen.
Juami Tiongson added 14 points, while June Mar Fajardo turned in another monster game with 12 markers, a game-high 19 boards, three dimes, two deflections, and a rejection.
San Miguel’s well-balanced offense saw five players score in double figures, including Jericho Cruz and Rodney Brondial with 12 apiece, and Don Trollano who chipped in 11.
Game 5 is set for Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with both powerhouse squads looking to seize control of the series and inch closer to a Finals berth.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel bounced back in style, securing a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals series with a 100-90 win over the San Miguel Beermen on Sunday, June 29, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
RJ Abarrientos came up huge with a near triple-double performance—24 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists—leading the Gin Kings back on top after dropping Game 2.
Jamie Malonzo added 20 points with four rebounds and two assists, while Japeth Aguilar chipped in 18 markers alongside seven boards, two dimes, three steals, and two blocks in a vintage two-way showing.
Ginebra also got key contributions from Scottie Thompson and Stephen Holt. Thompson tallied 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block, while Holt recorded 10 points, seven boards, and a deflection.
For San Miguel, Don Trollano kept them in the fight with 22 points and three rebounds. JuneMar Fajardo posted a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, along with three dimes and a block.
CJ Perez and Jericho Cruz added 11 points apiece, while Juami Tiongson rounded out the Beermen’s double-digit scorers with 10.
Ginebra edged SMB 23-20 in the opening quarter, but the Beermen fought back strong in the second to take a 50-46 halftime lead. That momentum didn't last, as Ginebra responded with a commanding 25-14 third period to retake control at 71-64, then sealed the win with a 29-26 finish in the final frame.
“I’m just real proud of the guys for steadying themselves,” said head coach Tim Cone. “We figured a couple of things out. I felt we played with a really good tempo, and then RJ played tremendous down the stretch to keep them at bay.”
Game 4 is set for Wednesday, July 2, at 5:00 PM at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters broke through in their best-of-seven semi-finals series in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup, taking Game 3 in dominant fashion with a 107-86 win over TNT Tropang 5G on Sunday, June 29, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Anton Asistio powered the Elasto Painters with a personal playoff-high 24 points off the bench. He also tallied six assists and a rebound in just under 29 minutes of action, going 7-of-9 from the field, 4-of-5 from three-point range, and 2-of-3 from the four-point arc.
Caelan Tiongson added 16 markers, four rebounds, one assist, and a block, while Keith Datu delivered a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double performance to go with two assists and a rejection.
Leonard Santillan contributed 12 points and eight rebounds, while Andrei Caracut chipped in 10 points, four assists, and four steals, helping Rain or Shine build early momentum and keep control through most of the game.
TNT, on the other hand, struggled without RR Pogoy, Jayson Castro, and Rey Nambatac. Calvin Oftana led the Tropa with 16 points and eight rebounds but registered a -22 plus-minus while shooting just 1-of-6 from deep. Simon Enciso and Glenn Khobuntin added 12 points each.