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Pacers stun shorthanded Cavaliers: NBA playoff Game 2 winners and losers

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Pacers stun shorthanded Cavaliers: NBA playoff Game 2 winners and losers


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It’s looking precarious for Donovan Mitchell and the shorthanded Cleveland Cavaliers.

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The Pacers stunned the Cavs once again in the second round of the NBA playoffs, stealing Game 2 on Tuesday night, 120-119, after Indiana scored the game’s final eight points inside the final 50 seconds of the game.

The loss puts Cleveland in an 0-2 hole, with the series now heading to Indianapolis and Cleveland still needing to contend with injury issues. All-Stars Evan Mobley and Darius Garland and key bench player De’Andre Hunter missed Game 2, and their status for Game 3 is in question.

Here are the winners and losers from Game 2 of the second-round playoff series between the No. 4 Indiana Pacers and No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers:

The Pacers don’t quit

Since 2005, teams carrying a seven-point lead in the final 48 seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime of postseason games, entering Tuesday night, had a combined record of 1,679-2 — a winning percentage of .999.

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Not only did the Pacers make it 1,679-3, they also own two of those victories, with the other coming exactly one week ago, in their Game 5 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. It’s a remarkable statistic, and one that hints to a spectacular amount of luck, but it also is a marker of Indiana’s resiliency and resourceful play in the clutch.

Aaron Nesmith

The 25-year-old Nesmith scored 15 of his playoff career-high 23 points in the second half and was a massive spark the Pacers needed on both ends of the floor. Aside from his five drained 3-pointers, the plays he’ll be remembered for most are his putback dunk on a Pascal Siakam missed free throw and an offensive foul he drew just seconds later.

The dunk was the first basket of Indiana’s 8-0 run to close the game, and the foul created a key change of possession.

Donovan Mitchell

Needing to carry the Cavs, Mitchell was masterful. He scored 48 points on 15-of-30 shooting and added 9 assists. What was most impressive was the way Mitchell — as he continues to struggle with shots from the perimeter — relentlessly attacked Indiana in the paint.

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Mitchell accounted for half of Cleveland’s 56 points in the paint all by himself. And when he didn’t finish, he often got to the line, converting 17-of-21 free throws.

Donovan Mitchell

His offensive dominance aside, Mitchell is a player whose teams have made the postseason each of the eight seasons he has played in the NBA. He has reached the conference semis four times. He has never advanced beyond that.

With the Cavaliers facing an 0-2 deficit and the series headed to Indiana, and with the Cavaliers facing injury issues, Mitchell is in danger of — again — seeing his postseason cut short.

Indiana’s ball security issues

The Pacers finished Tuesday’s game with 18 turnovers, which was one more than they had in Game 1. It’s tough to argue with a 2-0 lead, but turnovers — for a team that ranked second in the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.22) — persist as Indiana’s biggest issue this series.

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The first quarter was particularly sloppy, with the Pacers committing nine turnovers. It was no surprise to see Indiana shoot 31.3% from the floor in the period, 12.5% from 3, score just 15 points and carry a 17-point deficit into the start of the second. If Cleveland needs a way back in the series, this would be the place to start.

Max Strus struggles in the second half

Nine of his 23 points did come after halftime, but Strus went cold from deep, going just 1-of-5 from 3-point range in the second half. His most egregious blunder, however, was unquestionably a careless pass he lobbed on an inbound when Cleveland was up three with 24.7 seconds to go.

Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard easily stole the pass, and it led to that wild Indiana finish.



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Indiana sees significant drop in number of homeless veterans

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Indiana sees significant drop in number of homeless veterans


INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) — Indiana saw a significant decline in veteran homelessness last year, despite the total number of homelessness rising across the state.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) annual estimation of the homeless population, known as the Point in Time (PIT) count, Indiana saw an 18.7% decline in veteran homelessness in 2025 compared to the year before.

That marked the second-largest decline of any state by percentage.

Helping Veterans and Families (HVAF) of Indiana specializes in assistance for veterans facing homelessness. CEO Emmy Hildebrand told News 8 the formula that’s finding success is the same that works with any at-risk group: housing and wrap-around services.

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Hildebrand said that the formula needs support from the state.

“There is no state funding supporting homeless services in our state,” Hildebrand said. “And very little local funding outside Indianapolis.”

Safety net programs have faced budget cuts, with lawmakers eliminating funding for the Housing First program in 2025. It supported organizations helping people secure stable housing.

And housing advocates have criticized Indiana’s public camping ban as essentially making it illegal to be homeless.

HVAF client Terri Massey, a 34-year-old Navy veteran, said the stigma of being homeless was the most difficult challenge to overcome.

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“I’m still trying to provide for my kids,” Massey said “I’m (not) out here being lazy or not trying to do better.”

Massey was working, supporting her children, but found herself sleeping in cars and hotel rooms because she didn’t have stable housing. “Going to that work, working 10 hours, leaving, going to sleep in my car.”

HVAF helped place Massey in a permanent apartment. HVAF also placed Massey in a different kind of “bootcamp” years after her time in the military, learning job skills. She’s looking for a job, but thankful to do it from a place she can call home.

“I am beyond grateful and thankful. I literally pray and thank God every day,” Massey said. “Because for the longest I felt like I was alone. And I had to figure everything out by myself. I didn’t.”

It’s estimated that seven percent of Indiana’s homeless are veterans. Hildebrand said there are federal funds for organizations working with veterans, which support HVAF’s programs.

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Still, finding permanent housing is a struggle.

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, for every 100 extremely low-income households in Indiana, just 34 rental homes are affordable and available.

“There are so many people on the bubble that are just one emergency away from living in their car, staying with friends and family, or living on the streets because we don’t have the appropriate system here in Indiana,” Hildebrand said.

Hildebrand said lawmakers assured her they would work to support homeless services, but she hasn’t seen any drafted legislation that might be introduced in the next legislative session.

Across the country, about one in 25 people experiencing homelessness previously served active duty in the armed forces, according to numbers from HUD. Veteran homelessness declined 56% between 2009 and 2025.

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Northwest Indiana under air quality alert for July 8th

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Northwest Indiana under air quality alert for July 8th


The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has issued an Air Quality Action Day for July 8th in Northwest Indiana.

Ozone levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range, also known as the “orange” level. While not everyone will notice or be effected by the conditions, and while they may not be as severe as recent wildfire smoke events, individuals with asthma, COPD, and other health issues should proceed with caution when exercising outside.

Ozone levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range, also known as the “orange” level. (WSBT Photo)

The affected area is all of Northwest Indiana, including the cities of: Crown Point, Gary, Hammond, Kentland, LaPorte, Michigan City, Portage, Rensselaer, Valparaiso and all other cities in the region, especially those near Lake Michigan.

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Warm temperatures, mostly sunny skies, and light and varied winds coming off of Lake Michigan are expected to contribute to elevated ozone levels.

To stay up to date on issuances and quality levels in Indiana, visit SmogWatch.IN.gov.



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Baby abducted in Marshall County found safe in northwest Indiana

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Baby abducted in Marshall County found safe in northwest Indiana


A 45-year-old woman is facing charges after a baby abducted in Marshall County was found by police in northwest Indiana. Bobbi Jo Noviak, 45, faces charges of kidnapping and criminal confinement, according to the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department.



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