The Indiana Pacers and Golden State Warriors delivered statement wins on the road Tuesday, shaking up the second round of the NBA playoffs and extending a trend of home teams faltering in the early goings.
In Cleveland, Myles Turner and Aaron Nesmith each scored 23 points to propel No. 4 seed Indiana to a 2-0 series lead against the Cavaliers, marking the first time the Pacers have won the opening two games of a playoff series on the road since their 1994 first-round battle with Orlando.
Turner’s dominance in the paint and Nesmith’s sharpshooting were too much for a depleted Cavaliers squad to handle, despite a jaw-dropping 48-point performance from Donovan Mitchell. The Cavaliers were without key starters Evan Mobley (left ankle) and De’Andre Hunter (right thumb), both injured in Game 1. Star guard Darius Garland also missed his fourth consecutive postseason game due to a lingering toe issue.
“This was a huge step for us,” said Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle. “To win twice on the road, in this atmosphere, says a lot about where our guys are mentally.”
Meanwhile, in Minneapolis, the Golden State Warriors overcame the absence of Stephen Curry to claim a gritty 99-88 win over the Timberwolves and snatch Game 1 of their Western Conference series.
Curry, sidelined with a hamstring strain, watched as Buddy Hield and Draymond Green stepped up in his absence. Hield tallied 24 points on an efficient 5-for-8 shooting from beyond the arc, continuing his hot form from the Game 7 triumph over Houston. Green added 18 points, including four early three-pointers that set the tone for Golden State.
“Everyone wrote us off without Steph,” said Green postgame. “But this team has heart, and tonight we showed it.”
Jimmy Butler contributed across the board with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, as the Warriors rotated 12 players and leaned heavily on hustle and defensive intensity to stifle Minnesota’s rhythm.
For the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards shook off a poor start to finish with 23 points and 14 rebounds, but his 9-of-22 shooting highlighted the team’s offensive struggles. The Wolves shot just 5-for-29 from three-point range and trailed by as many as 23 late in the third quarter.
With home teams still winless in the second round, the pressure is on Minnesota to reverse that trend in Game 2 on Thursday.
