The Indiana Pacers and the Cleveland Cavaliers will reconvene at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Monday for a pivotal Game Four of the sides' playoff second-round duel.
The away side got themselves back in contention with a crucial win in Saturday's Game Three and will now set out to level the series at two victories apiece.
Match preview
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After upsetting the odds in games one and two to take a commanding 2-0 lead, the Pacers were sent crashing back down to earth as they suffered their heaviest defeat of the playoffs so far, a 126-104 loss earlier today.
Rick Carlisle's men were slow to get up to full speed and trailed by 15 heading into the final 325 seconds of the first quarter, although they did manage to level matters before the end of the quarter courtesy of a 22-7 run.
However, their shambolic display in the subsequent 12 minutes of action saw them held to just 13 points while also giving up 34, leaving them down by 22 points at the interval and with too much ground to make up.
By far his most underwhelming playoff game in a Pacers jersey, Tyrese Haliburton managed just four points and five assists off the back of a combined 41 points and 15 assists in the first two matchups of the series.
While that was only a first defeat in five matches for the Pacers against the Cavs since the turn of the year, they will be wary of relinquishing their advantage with another defeat on Monday, after which the series returns to Ohio for Game Five.
Averaging fewer rebounds per game (41.4) than all but one of the eight remaining teams in the playoffs, the Pacers were severely punished for their deficiency on the glass last time out and will need to remedy that to avoid another defeat here.
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After strolling past the Miami Heat in round one, the Cavaliers could not have asked for a worse start to their conference semi-finals matchup, as they lost both of the two opening home games before heading to Indianapolis.
Knowing a defeat would leave them on the cusp of elimination, Kenny Atkinson's men rose up to the occasion with their first wire-to-wire win of the current playoffs, having led for all but 71 seconds of the 48 minutes, trailing at no point.
Picking up from where he left off in the first two clashes, Donovan Mitchell tallied a game-high 43 points on 14-29 shooting to go along with nine rebounds—five of which were offensive—and four assists.
Mitchell is currently on pace to become just the fifth player in NBA history and the first since Michael Jordan to average 40 points per game in a playoff series, and his side will need him to continue his offensive explosion.
With All-Stars Evan Mobley and Darius Garland recently returning to action, the Cavaliers will fancy their chances of restoring parity come the sound of the final buzzer on Monday as the number one seed in the East seeks to reach the conference finals.
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Team News
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Alongside Mobley and Garland, De'Andre Hunter also made his comeback for the Cavs from injury during Saturday's win and is expected to suit up once again here.
Mobley recorded 19 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and as many blocks to become only the second player—after LeBron James—in franchise history with at least 15 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and three blocks in a game.
Isaiah Jackson remains the Pacers' only injury casualty for this one with a torn Achilles he suffered back in November's defeat to the New Orleans Pelicans.
Bennedict Mathurin recorded his first 20-point playoff display last time out and could be rewarded with more playing time in keeping with his 27 minutes in Game Three.
Indiana Pacers possible starting five:
Haliburton, Nembhard; Nesmith, Siakam; Turner
Cleveland Cavaliers possible starting five:
Garland, Mitchell; Strus, Mobley; Allen
We say: Cavaliers to win by 4+ points
The Cavs came out roaring to claim a much-needed win last time out and now have the opportunity to level matters.
We are backing the visitors to edge out their hosts, albeit by only a narrow margin.
Adepoju Marvellous
