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The Cleveland Cavaliers participated in this year’s qualifying series as the seeded of the Eastern Conference, then crossed a first -round series with Miami Heat.
After swept away the heat, the Cavs opened a second round series with the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.
The Pacers upset the Cavs in match 1 of the semi-finals is, and Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson apparently challenged the Pacers’ play style.
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Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson reacts first half against the Indiana Pacers in match 1 of the second round of the NBA 2025 qualifiers in Rocket Arena in Cleveland on May 4, 2025. (Ken Blaze / Imagn images)
During his post-match press conference, Atkinson revealed that Evan Mobley aggravated an ankle during the match, while Deandre Hunter fought an inch. While the coach said that the game did not increase to the “dirty” level, he suggested that the Indiana level of physicity contributed to injuries.
Knicks erases the 20 -point deficit, Shock Celtics with a prolongation victory in match 1
“I don’t think it’s dirty games, but I think it has spent a line of physicity,” said Atkinson.
The Indiana Pacers striker Pascal Siakam (43) defends the Cleveland striker Evan Mobley (4) during the second half of match 1 of the second round of the NBA 2025 qualifiers in Rocket Arena in Cleveland on May 4, 2025. (Ken Blaze / Imagn images)
“This line that we talked about from the place where it became excessive. So, the n ° 1 was the non-appeal of the Layup of De’Andre, that I do not know … I felt that it was absolutely erased and dislocated its thumb, so it will be doubtful. And then Evan, almost the same era, I do not remember clearly or after, I think the guys.
Pacers’ head coach Rick Carlisle responded to Atkinson’s assertion, saying: “He protects his players”.
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson reacts to the first quarter against the Indiana Pacers in match 2 of the second round of the NBA 2025 qualifiers at the Rocket Arena Cleveland on May 6, 2025. (Images David Richard / Imagn)
“And it’s a large part of the coach’s work,” added Carlisle. “There are so many events in an NBA match. They have shot three games in the League. When you return the games to the League, the other team must be informed of this, so we have been informed. …. I don’t want to tell you the number of games we have returned during our Milwaukee eliminatory series, and we won four out of five games.
Carlisle said that at least one of the parts was the result of a “missed call”.
“The game with (Jarrett) Allen … It was a missed call, clearly,” said Carlisle.
The NBA inflicted a fine on Carlisle $ 35,000 in May 2024 after directing criticism against the referees who officiated the Pacers series against the New York Knicks.
Shortly before match 2 was overthrown on Tuesday evening, ESPN reported that Mobley and Hunter had been excluded. Darius Garland, who attended match 1 with an injury, was not available for match 2 either.
The Cavs held an advance of 81-67 on the Pacers with 5:07 to play in the third quarter of the match 2 Tuesday evening.
