Tuesday night delivered more playoff chaos in the NBA conference semifinals as both road teams walked away with wins — and all four games in this round so far have gone to the visitors.
The Golden State Warriors took down the Minnesota Timberwolves 99-88, but it came at a heavy price with star guard Steph Curry sidelined due to a first-half hamstring strain. Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers pulled off a stunning comeback against the Cleveland Cavaliers, winning 120-119 thanks to Tyrese Haliburton’s last-second heroics.
In Minneapolis, what started as a battle of two strong Western Conference squads quickly turned into a survival mission for Golden State. With Curry ruled out before halftime, the Warriors turned to Buddy Hield, who delivered with 24 points, nine rebounds, and three assists. The Timberwolves failed to capitalize on Curry’s absence, struggling offensively throughout the first half. Golden State built a steady lead and never let go, even as Minnesota tried to rally late in the game. Game 2 shifts to Thursday night, where the Timberwolves will try to level the series on their home court.
While the Warriors held firm without their superstar, the Cavaliers crumbled despite a heroic performance from Donovan Mitchell. Cleveland was up for nearly the entire fourth quarter and held a seven-point lead with less than a minute to play. But a perfect storm of missed shots, poor ball-handling, and late-game breakdowns gave Indiana a chance — and they took it. Haliburton, who had already missed a crucial free throw, grabbed his own rebound and hit a wild three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Pacers a shocking victory and a commanding 2-0 series lead.
Mitchell finished with 48 points, shooting 50 percent from the field, while Max Strus added 23 points and Jarrett Allen contributed 22. But missing key players like Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and De’Andre Hunter proved too costly. Without a true floor general, Cleveland’s offense collapsed down the stretch. Ty Jerome struggled mightily, and with Mitchell exhausted, the Cavs failed to manage simple possessions or inbound plays, opening the door for Indiana’s comeback.
The Pacers got strong efforts across the board. Myles Turner and Aaron Nesmith each scored 23 points, while Bennedict Mathurin and Haliburton both added 19. The team’s resilience was on full display, as they erased multiple 20-point deficits to take control of the series. Game 3 heads to Indianapolis on Friday, where the Cavs face a must-win to keep their season alive.
So far, home-court advantage has meant little in these semifinals, and with stars dropping to injury and underdogs stepping up, the playoffs continue to deliver unexpected turns.