The Indiana Pacers have advanced to their second straight Eastern Conference Finals after defeating the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 114-105 in Game 5 on Tuesday night. Despite falling behind by 19 points in the first half, the Pacers rallied to win the series 4-1, eliminating the Cavaliers on their home court.
Tyrese Haliburton was a consistent standout throughout the series. In Game 1, he tallied 22 points and 13 assists to help lead Indiana to a 121-112 win. He followed that up in Game 2 with a game-winning three-pointer, finishing with 19 points. His leadership and clutch play were instrumental in the Pacers’ success.
In the decisive Game 5, Haliburton led all scorers with 31 points and added eight assists, shooting 10-of-15 from the field and 6-of-10 from beyond the arc. He played a key role in Indiana’s comeback, especially during a 22-point run across the second and third quarters.
During the game, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James took to social media to praise Haliburton’s performance, writing:
“Hali [expletive] hooping!!!! Where the lames who said he was overrated??!! Quiet as hell. That boy NICE and even more someone everyone would love to play with!”
James’s post sparked backlash from some NBA fans, who criticized him for not showing support for the Cavaliers, his former team and hometown franchise.
Comments from fans included:
“Damn King, I guess you not cheering for the Cavs.”
“You dead wrong for this King.”
“He love to see the Cavs lose when they ain’t got him.”
“Tweet about the Cavs.”
“He’s literally cooking your team.”
