On January 14th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued. In an earlier Eastern Conference focus match, the 12-game winning streak and league-leading Cavaliers hosted the fifth-seeded Pacers. Prior to the game, it was widely believed that this would be a one-sided crushing match, as the Cavaliers had unlocked too many milestone records this season, with an unstoppable dominance that surpassed even last season's Celtics. In the past 20 years, only the 73-win Warriors could compete with them.
The first quarter of the game was fiercely contested, with the Cavaliers trailing the Pacers by 2 points. However, fortunately, in the second quarter, the Cavaliers relied on their strong adjustment ability to score 34-19 and pull away the point difference. Surprisingly, in the second half, the Pacers staged an astonishing comeback, giving the Cavaliers a net point difference of 37-18 in the third quarter and maintaining their lead with a 31-22 advantage until the final whistle.
In the end, the Pacers pulled off a stunning upset against the Cavaliers, handing them a 15-point defeat and causing the invincible league leaders to fall. It is worth noting that the Pacers defeated the Cavaliers in this game while their star player Haliburton only played for 18 minutes, contributing 2 points, 1 rebound, and 5 assists. The Pacers relied on their excellent roster depth to contribute a team basketball game with six players scoring in double figures.
At the same time, the team's record quietly welcomed a six-game winning streak, becoming another super championship dark horse in the NBA. Fans who know the Pacers well are aware that last season they defeated strong teams like the Knicks and met the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. Although they were ultimately defeated, both Haliburton and Turner's performances were eye-catching, especially after the Pacers signed All-Star forward Siakam last summer, officially forming a peak trio of Haliburton, Siakam, and Turner.
In this Eastern Conference where the Cavaliers, Celtics, and Knicks are in a three-legged rivalry, the Pacers' rise has added suspense to the championship race, leaving other teams wondering how to compete. It was thought that overcoming these three teams would be enough, but now there is another super dark horse to contend with, so what can be done?
Moreover, for the Celtics, it was assumed that spending big money to retain the five giants during the offseason would ensure a championship defense this year. However, unexpectedly, the Cavaliers have been leading the league first throughout, with the Knicks and Pacers watching closely behind. This year's Eastern Conference will be exciting to watch, and the Celtics' chances of defending their championship are uncertain.