The Indiana Pacers have surged to a commanding 2-0 lead over the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2025 NBA Playoffs’ second round, stunning fans with a dramatic Game 2 comeback. However, the NBA’s Last Two Minute Report revealed critical officiating errors that tilted the game in Indy’s favor. As the series shifts to Indianapolis for Games 3 and 4. Let’s see how these missed calls and the Pacers’ grit shaped their massive victory.
NBA Missed Lane Violations Swing Game 2
With 48 seconds left and the Cavaliers leading 119-112, Pacers forward Pascal Siakam missed a free throw. Aaron Nesmith, jumping early, grabbed the rebound and slammed a putback dunk, cutting the lead to five, per ESPN’s recap. The NBA later admitted this was a double lane violation, as both teams’ players crossed early, warranting a jump ball instead of points, per Sporting News. This error kept the Pacers alive.
- Game-Changer: Had the dunk been nullified, Cleveland might have held their lead.
Haliburton’s Game-Winner Tainted by Error
The decisive blow came when Tyrese Haliburton, after missing a free throw with 12 seconds left, rebounded his miss and drained a game-winning 3-pointer for a 120-119 victory. The NBA’s report confirmed another missed double lane violation, which should have led to a jump ball, per Bleacher Report. Haliburton’s heroics, while clutch, benefited from this oversight. These five points from uncalled violations were pivotal in Indy’s 8-0 closing run,
Cavaliers’ Collapse and Pacers’ Momentum
While the missed calls stung, Cleveland’s collapse was self-inflicted. Despite Donovan Mitchell’s 48-point masterpiece, the Cavs squandered a 20-point lead, hampered by injuries to Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, and De’Andre Hunter, per NBA.com. Indiana, fueled by Haliburton’s 19 points and Nesmith’s 23, capitalized on every mistake. Their 50.5% fourth-quarter shooting, per ESPN, underscores their clutch prowess.
The Pacers’ Game 2 triumph, aided by officiating errors, has flipped the series. With momentum and home-court advantage, the Pacers are proving their 2024 Eastern Conference Finals run was no fluke. Can the Cavs recover? Share your predictions below!
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