Cavaliers, Pacers Set for Eastern Conference Semifinals

The Cleveland Cavaliers, after a dominant sweep of the Miami Heat in the first round, will face the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Playoffs' Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Pacers, who bested the Milwaukee Bucks in their opening series, present a significant challenge, having won three of four regular season matchups against the Cavaliers. Key storylines include the injury status of Cleveland's Darius Garland, who missed the last two games with a toe injury, and the high-powered offense of the Pacers, led by Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam. The series is expected to be high-scoring, with crucial matchups between star guards Donovan Mitchell and Haliburton, as well as frontcourt battles between Evan Mobley and Siakam. Indiana's offense has been especially impressive in the playoffs, leading all teams in assists per game and showcasing exceptional ball movement. Experts agree this will be a much tougher test for Cleveland than their first-round matchup.