**”It Has Happened Again in Indiana” – ESPN Recap (300 words)**
For the Indiana Pacers, heartbreak has become all too familiar — and once again, it’s happened in gut-wrenching fashion. Whether it’s a late collapse, a superstar’s dagger, or a series that slips away just as momentum starts to swing their way, the narrative remains the same: the Pacers come close, but not close enough.
In Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Indiana saw its playoff dreams shattered at home, despite a roaring crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Up double digits early, the Pacers looked poised to force a Game 7. But the second half brought a haunting sense of déjà vu. Defensive breakdowns, missed free throws, and a relentless push from the opposition undid what could’ve been a franchise-defining night.
Tyrese Haliburton, the team’s rising star, left everything on the floor — scoring, distributing, and leading with heart. But even his best wasn’t enough to hold off the run. Veterans like Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam struggled to assert themselves in crunch time, and the bench couldn’t swing the momentum back.
This season, Indiana showed real progress: a top-five offense, breakout performances, and a return to national relevance. Yet, the inability to close in key moments continues to plague the franchise. It echoes the ghosts of LeBron-era heartbreaks, Paul George-era exits, and the what-ifs of a team that’s always been just one step short of greatness.
For fans, “It has happened again in Indiana” is more than a line — it’s a painful reminder of potential unfulfilled. The foundation is strong, the talent is rising, but the scars of another playoff letdown linger.
Now the question becomes: can the Pacers finally learn from the past, or will this cycle of close calls define them once more?
