Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, bottom, is fouled by Indiana Pacers center Thomas Bryant in the second half during Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series in the NBA playoffs on Tuesday in Cleveland. (AP photo)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Denver Nuggets accomplished one goal by stealing Game 1 of their second-round playoff series at Oklahoma City.

The Indiana Pacers were even more productive in Cleveland, sweeping both games.

Now the two lower-seeded teams head home for their respective Game 3s tonight with a new goal — taking advantage of those early road wins by keeping the upper hand in their series.

“The series isn’t over, it’s far from over,” Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton said Thursday. “This is a team that earned the No. 1 seed for a reason. It’s probably rare they lose two games in a row. I don’t know the exact number, but it probably doesn’t happen often. So we’re going to see a desperate team, a team that’s coming in here to win two games.”

Actually, the Cavaliers lost three straight during a four-day stretch in late January and four straight during a seven-day stretch in mid-March. Otherwise, they’ve been dominant on the road where they earned the league’s third-best mark at 30-11.

Even Donovan Mitchell’s incredible game — 48 points, 17 made free throws and nine assists — wasn’t enough to salvage a split vs. the Pacers. This time, though, Cleveland could be closer to full strength.

NBA Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley and key backup De’Andre Hunter could both return. They both missed Game 2, Mobley with a sprained left ankle and Hunter with a sprained right thumb. The bigger question is starting guard Darius Garland. He’s missed four straight games with a sprained left big toe.

All three are listed as questionable.

Oklahoma City’s Game 2 performance also shows it can rally in its series.

The Thunder endured just two two-game skids this season, making sure it didn’t happen a third time with a 43-point victory Wednesday in Game 3. The Thunder also went 35-6 on the road, including an early regular-season split in Denver.

Thunder at Nuggets

When/Where to Watch: Game 3, 10 p.m. EDT (ESPN)

Series: Series tied, 1-1.

BetMGM says: Nuggets by 4.5.

What to know: Oklahoma City became the first team to protect its home court in this round after road teams won each of the first five games, and they did it by setting franchise and league records with an 87-point first half. Nothing went right for the Nuggets. They shot 37.9% from the field, had 20 turnovers and never looked like the team that played Game 1. MVP finalist Shea Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 33.5 points to lead the Thunder despite sitting out the fourth quarter Wednesday.

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