Overview

• The Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers will open their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series on Sunday, May 4, at Rocket Arena, with game times and broadcast details still pending.
• Cleveland secured the No. 1 seed by finishing the regular season with 64 wins, while Indiana earned the No. 4 seed after defeating the Milwaukee Bucks in five games during the first round.
• Donovan Mitchell has emphasized a heightened level of desperation for Cleveland, citing his drive to overcome past playoff disappointments and lead the Cavs to a championship.
• Indiana enters the series as a battle-tested team, having reached the 2024 Eastern Conference finals, but will face a fully healthy Cleveland roster for the first time this season.
• Key contributions from Cavaliers role players like Evan Mobley, De’Andre Hunter, and Dean Wade are expected to be pivotal in countering Indiana’s fast-paced, five-out offensive style.