Context:

The Indiana Pacers secured a decisive victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers with a score of 129-109, overcoming the first-quarter ejection of Bennedict Mathurin to take a 3-1 lead in the NBA Eastern Conference semi-final series. Despite the absence of Donovan Mitchell due to an ankle injury, the Cavaliers struggled as the Pacers set a franchise play-off record for points in a half, achieving an 80-39 advantage by halftime. Key contributions came from Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, and Obi Toppin, who collectively helped the Pacers bounce back from a previous heavy loss. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Denver Nuggets 92-87 to tie their Western Conference series at 2-2, with significant performances from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets, showing fatigue after a recent overtime game, lost their lead in the fourth quarter as the Thunder capitalized on a crucial three-pointer by Cason Wallace to secure the win.

Dive Deeper:

• The Indiana Pacers managed to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers despite losing Bennedict Mathurin early in the game due to an ejection, achieving a significant 129-109 victory and a 3-1 lead in their series. This win puts them within one game of reaching their second consecutive Eastern Conference final.

• Bennedict Mathurin's ejection occurred in the first quarter after he punched De'Andre Hunter, but the Pacers were already leading 22-10 at that point. They capitalized on their early momentum, ending the first quarter 38-23 and setting a franchise play-off record by scoring 80 points in the first half.

• Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, and Obi Toppin significantly contributed to the Pacers' victory, each scoring over 20 points, which was crucial in bouncing back from their previous 126-104 loss in game three. Turner's reflection on the team's performance highlighted their resilience and ability to thrive under adversity.

• The Cavaliers faced additional challenges as their key player, Donovan Mitchell, had to leave the game due to an ankle injury, with his status for the next game uncertain pending an MRI scan.

• In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder managed a narrow 92-87 victory over the Denver Nuggets to level their series at 2-2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 25 points, while Nikola Jokic stood out for the Nuggets with 27 points and 13 rebounds.

• The game between the Thunder and Nuggets was characterized by fatigue from both teams, especially since it followed only 38 hours after Denver's overtime win in game three. Despite taking the lead in the third quarter and early in the fourth, the Nuggets were unable to maintain their advantage, losing it after a pivotal three-pointer by Cason Wallace.

• The Thunder are set to host the pivotal game five, scheduled to tip-off at 02:30 BST on Wednesday, as both teams aim to gain the upper hand in their closely contested series.