Cleveland Cavaliers fans came into Game 3 with bouts of doubt. The team that played one of its best seasons in recent memory squandered its home-court advantage after losing the first two games of their series against the Indiana Pacers.

Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson refused to blame officials for what the NBA said were three incorrect no-calls in the final minute — including one that led to Tyrese Haliburton’s game-winning 3-pointer

The 120-119 loss in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Tuesday didn’t feel like a collapse. It felt like a slow leak until the Pacers seized what the Cavs could no longer sustain.