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The Cleveland Cavaliers took part in this year's playoffs as the top seed of the Eastern Conference, then cruised in a first-round series with the Miami Heat.
After sweeping the heat, the Cavs opened their second round series with the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.
The Pacers confused the Cavs in Game 1 of the East semi-finals, with Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson clearly having problems with Pacer's playing style.
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Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson will respond to the Indiana Pacers in the first half in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, held at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on May 4, 2025. (Ken Blaze/Imagn image)
At a post-match press conference, Atkinson revealed that Evan Mobley had worsened his ankle during the match and DeAndre Hunter had dislocated his thumb. The coach said the play did not escalate to the level of “dirty” but he suggested that Indiana's level of physicality contributed to the injury.
Knicks erased a 20-point deficit, and the Celtics win overtime in Game 1
“I don't think they're dirty plays, but I think it went through the line of physicality,” Atkinson said.
Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) defends Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) in the second half of Game 1 of the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on May 4, 2025. (Ken Blaze/Imagn image)
“We've been talking about where it was overloaded. So, No. 1 was a non-call for De'andre's layup… I felt he absolutely expunged and dislocated his thumb, so he'd doubt his thumb. Game.”
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle told Atkinson that he was “protecting the players.”
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson will respond to the Indiana Pacers in the first quarter in Game 2 of the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs held at Rocket Arena Cleveland on May 6, 2025. (David Richard/Imagn Images)
“And that's a big part of the coach's job,” Carlisle added. “There are so many events in the NBA game. They played three games in the league. When you play in the league, we were informed because we need to notify other teams. …
Carlisle said at least one of the plays was the result of a “missing call.”
“A play with (Jarrett) Allen…it was clearly a missed call,” Carlisle said.
The NBA fined Carlisle $35,000 in May 2024 after directing the New York Knicks to criticize the umpire for hosting the Pacers' playoff series.
Shortly before Game 2 turned over on Tuesday evening, ESPN reported that Mobley and Hunter had been ruled out. Darius Garland, who was injured and sat in Game 1, was also not available in Game 2.
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The Cavs led the Pacers 81-67, with 5:07 remaining in the third quarter of Game 2 on Tuesday night.
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