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The Cleveland Cavaliers entered this year's playoffs as the top seed of the Eastern Conference then toured the Miami Heat's first-round series.
After sweeping the heat, the Cavaliers played a second round of the series with the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.
The Pacers bothered the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, and Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson was clearly skeptical of the Pacers' style of playing.
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Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson reacted to the Indiana Pacers in the first half against the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs in Cleveland on May 4, 2025. (Ken Blaze/Imagn image)
At a post-match press conference, Atkinson revealed that Evan Mobley had aggravated his ankle in the game, while Deandre Hunter was dislocated. The coach said the game didn't upgrade to "dirty" levels, but he did suggest that Indiana's physical level could cause damage.
Knicks shocked the Celtics with overtime victory in Game 1
"I don't think they're dirty dramas, but I think it's already through a series of bodies," Atkinson said.
Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) defended Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) in the second round of the 2025 NBA playoff round in Cleveland on May 4, 2025. (Ken Blaze/Imagn image)
"That line we've kind of being talking about where it became excessive. So, No. 1 was the non-call on De'Andre's layout, which I don't know ... I felt he got absolutely obliterated and dislocated his thumb, so he'll be questionable. And then Evan, around the same time, I can't remember if it was before or after, (Myles) Turner contests his two-point shot, comes under, clearly under him. ... I think you guys saw him limping the rest of the game."
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle responded to Atkinson's claims, saying: "He is protecting his players."
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson reacted to the Indiana Pacers in the first quarter on May 6, 2025 in Rocket Arena in the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs on May 6, 2025. (David Richard/Imagn image)
"It's an important part of the coaching job," Carlisle added. "There are a lot of games in the NBA game. They play three games. When you play in the league, you have to notify another team, so we've been notified. …. I don't want to tell you how many games we've turned in the Milwaukee series, and we won a lot of things in five games. In the hot competitive series, you have a lot of competition with you."
Carlisle said at least one of the dramas was the result of a “missing call”.
"The match with (Jarrett) Allen...is obviously a missed call," Carlisle said.
The NBA fined Carlisle $35,000 in May 2024 for some criticism of the referee, who presided over the Pacers' playoff series against the New York Knicks.
ESPN reported that Mobley and Hunter were excluded Tuesday night, shortly before Game 2. Darius Garland defeated the first game with injury and he was unable to get a second game.
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The Cavaliers led the Pacers to 81-67 with 5:07 left in Game 2 on Tuesday night.
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