Indiana Pacers don't get it done early or late in loss to Cavaliers. Now, they must win their final game.

The Pacers lost in Cleveland on Friday

Apr 12, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) dribbles. / David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

CLEVELAND — The Indiana Pacers started off their weekend full of postseason opportunities with a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night. It was the first of potentially four chances that the Pacers could have to clinch a spot in the 2024 postseason with a win. And when there is that kind of tension, it can lead to a jittery performance.

The Pacers proved on Tuesday against the Toronto Raptors that they're ready for these games. Aaron Nesmith said before Friday's affair that players work hard to be in moments that matter, and that despite Nesmith playing in the NBA Finals before with Boston, it felt different being in a key game with a new team. Head coach Rick Carlisle explained that avoiding any tense feelings early comes down to playing process oriented basketball. That was what the Pacers needed to do to beat the Cavaliers.

Instead, they looked unorganized and slow early in the game. Their defense was poor, conceding 35 points to Cleveland in the first quarter. Donovan Mitchell got hot for the Cavs early, as he can do, and Jarrett Allen kept finding seams behind the Pacers defense. It's hard to rotate defensively and keep up with Allen when Mitchell is feeling it, but the Pacers have shown they can slow down the Cavaliers before.

Their defensive pressure didn't improve much in the second quarter as Cleveland rose to a 70-point first half. For a Pacers team that was trying to make the postseason for the first time in four years, it was not the start they hoped for in a game they needed to win.

"I think that more than anything, we let their key guys get going," Pacers center Myles Turner said of his team's first-half defense. "Overall, just a maturity moment for this group... you can leave no doubt this time of the year."

Cleveland is a difficult team to contain. Their offense, at its best, can be threatening — especially when Mitchell gets rolling. The Pacers put Andrew Nembhard on him, and Nembhard defended him well at times throughout the game, and particularly in the fourth quarter. But it was tough in the first half to slow Mitchell down. He was making some challenging shots.

The Pacers could have kept up on the scoreboard with a high-powered scoring attack, but their offensive identity typically involves playing in transition or playing with pace. When they're taking the ball out of the net over and over, that's tricky to do. They weren't able to catch up to the Cavaliers and we're down 11 heading into halftime.

Indiana settled it a little bit at the halftime break, with the starters proving to be much better in the early third quarter. They immediately chipped into the lead, pulling it down to seven less than two minutes into the second half. The Pacers needed to keep their deficit below double digits.

The blue and gold's bench, a group that has been reliable for the Pacers of late, was even better, trimming the lead to an even smaller and more manageable three points. But the team still had work to do, and the Cavs did well to answer any Pacers run for much of the second half. Even after a good third quarter for the visitors, they still trailed entering the fourth, and Cleveland was about to round into form.

Holding an edge entering the final period, Cleveland started the frame with Mitchell on the bench. The next stretch of the game would be vital. If Indiana caught up or took a lead, their chances of winning would be high. Should the Cavaliers extend their advantage with the star guard getting a rest, their odds of a victory would skyrocket.

The latter took place. Clelveland extended their lead to seven early in the fourth period, and it was at six when the star guard re-entered the action with about nine minutes to go.

That was a key sequence, and the Cavaliers had a huge advantage at that point even though the Pacers bench was playing better in the second half. "We just got stops," guard T.J. McConnell said of his team's second half improvement. "We got out and did what we do best,"

That improved defense sustained from the Pacers and helped them claw their way back into the game again. They slowly cut a seven-point lead down to four, then down to three. But they weren't able to ever give themselves much of a chance until the final minute.

With about 90 seconds of game time remaining, the Pacers had an opportunity to take the lead. It was 120-118, and they had the ball. But the Cavs defense stepped up and challenged the blue and gold for all 24 seconds of the possession. Turner had to get a three-point attempt up with the shot clock about to expire, and he missed it left. The Cavs once again had possession.

That moment is when the Pacers lack of focus from the first half returned. They did well to force an initial stop as Nembhard contested a Mitchell three well. But Max Strus skied in for an uncontested offensive rebound for Cleveland as Indiana was ball watching with the shot in the air. The ball made its way to Darius Garland, who hit a tough stepback three that extended the Cavs lead to five. There were only 50 seconds left in the game — that rebound and bucket effectively put things away.

"The rebound is big. It's possession of the ball," Carlisle said of rebounding in general after the game.

Poor play late and early did the Pacers in against Cleveland. "We were right there, we just didn't make enough plays at the end," Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton said after the game. "I just have to be better."

Turner agreed. "It is on us to set the tone. Setting the tone this time of year is important," he said of the opening five.

The Pacers are now 46-35 with one game left in the season. They play the Atlanta Hawks today, and their goal remains the same as it did Friday. Win, and they're in the playoffs. Lose, and they likely have to go through the Play-In tournament to reach the postseason field.

The Pacers may feel like they shouldn't need to be in this situation. Had they beaten the Cavs on Friday, they'd already be securely in the East's top six. It was a close game, and Indiana gave themselves a chance to win late. But their slow start and finish ultimately did them in. They can't afford another outing like that on Sunday.

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