The Cavs started the fourth quarter on an explosive 5-0 run, to their credit. They even cut Indy’s lead to 1 at multiple points.

But to the point of this larger trend: After getting to within 1 the first time on a Garland layup, Tyrese Haliburton of the Pacers drove into the lane for an explosive dunk to get the lead back up to 3, never rattled. With 5:03 to play, Donovan Mitchell hit a 3 from the right wing to cut the Indiana lead back to 1 again. Andrew Nembhard answered on the next possession with a 3 of his own for the Pacers thanks to an offensive rebound by Myles Turner, again unfazed.

With 1:27 to play, Donovan Mitchell cut the Pacers lead to 3, with a 3 on the left baseline. Nembhard again had the answer with an and-one layup and free throw to put the lead back up to six with 55 seconds to play.

It speaks to many of the larger themes of this series.

Ashley Babcock