The Indiana Pacers (18-17, 10-7 Home) will try to overcome the NBA’s top scoring defense when they play host to the Cleveland Cavaliers (22-13, 6-9 Away) on Thursday. Cleveland was beaten by the Brooklyn Nets 125-117 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Monday. With 46 points and eight assists, Darius Garland was a top performer in the losing effort.
The Cavaliers are the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, 2.5 games behind the Boston Celtics. Indiana got the win on Tuesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, beating the Atlanta Hawks 129-114. Buddy Hield had 28 points and nine rebounds to lead the team. The Pacers are eighth in the Eastern Conference.
It’s the final meeting of the season between the teams. Cleveland will be pursuing a season sweep against Indiana after taking the only previous game 118-112 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on December 16, their fifth straight head-to-head victory. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 41 points.
Bennedict Mathurin had 22 points in the loss. The Cavs have been led this season by Mitchell, who is averaging 28.5 points per game, eighth-highest in the league. Meanwhile, Garland is dishing 7.8 assists per game, fifth-most in the NBA, and Jarrett Allen is grabbing 10.1 rebounds per game (10th).
Tyrese Haliburton (20.5 ppg) and Hield (17.7) have powered the Pacers’ offense. Haliburton also has doled out 10.2 assists per game, most in the NBA. Myles Turner has pulled down 7.8 rebounds per game.The Cavaliers are holding opponents to 105.5 points per game, ranking as the stingiest scoring defense in the NBA.
The Pacers have found success in the Cavaliers’ last 10 trips to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, winning six. Cleveland is 6-4 in the last 10 games with an average margin of +3.0 (109.9-106.9). Indiana has split the last 10 (5-5), scoring 112.9 points per game on average while allowing 112.7 (+0.2 margin).
CAVALIERS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Caris LeVert: 11.6 | 19.5 | -7.9
Points per game:
Caris LeVert: 7.8 | 11.6 | -3.8
Rebounds per game:
Evan Mobley: 6.6 | 9.0 | -2.4
PACERS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Aaron Nesmith: 21.3 | 13.7 | +7.5
Points per game:
Myles Turner: 10.6 | 16.2 | -5.6
Assists per game:
Tyrese Haliburton: 7.6 | 10.2 | -2.6
SportsTips’ NBA Pick:
Cleveland Cavs (-200)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
