The Cleveland Cavaliers, who had an impressive 64-18 record during the regular season, now find themselves in a precarious situation as they face the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. After losing Game 1 by a score of 121-112, the Cavs faced further adversity in Game 2 when key players Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and De’Andre Hunter were sidelined due to injuries. Despite having leads in multiple moments of the game, the depleted Cavaliers could not secure a victory; Tyrese Haliburton of the Pacers hit a crucial game-winning three-pointer just before time expired, adding to the Cavaliers’ struggles.
This predicament is not unique to the Cavaliers. The defending champions, the Boston Celtics, are also down 0-2 in their series against the New York Knicks after blowing two significant leads on home turf. Both teams are now in the challenging position of needing to win consecutive games to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Historically, teams in the NBA facing a 2-0 deficit have a difficult road ahead. Since 1956, out of 463 series that started with a team winning the first two games, only 34 teams (7.3%) have come back to win the series. In the conference semifinals alone, only eight out of 117 teams (6.8%) have managed to overcome this deficit.
To stay competitive, the Cavaliers and Celtics must aim to force a Game 6 or Game 7. Historically, teams down 2-0 have forced a Game 6 in 87 instances, but only 14 of those (16.1%) proceeded to win the following rounds. A Game 7 has also occurred 58 times, with 14 teams (24.1%) completing the comeback.
However, there is a glimmer of hope. Recent postseasons have seen teams recover from 2-0 deficits to win their respective series. Notably, in the 2024 Eastern Conference semifinals, the Pacers came back to defeat the Knicks in seven games. Therefore, while the Cavaliers are facing substantial challenges, history shows that comebacks are possible, and the excitement of the playoffs remains alive.
In light of these developments, fans of both the Cavaliers and Celtics will be watching closely as the series progresses. With determination and the right adjustments, both teams could still rewrite their playoff narratives.