PACERS DROP GAME AGAINST CLEVELAND

Despite having just nine available players, the Pacers led for the vast majority of the first three-plus quarters on the road on Sunday night in Cleveland.

But the Cavaliers’ star power ultimately prevailed, as the Cavs (49-29) surged ahead in the fourth quarter behind All-Star guards Donovan Mitchell and James Harden for a 117-108 victory. With the win, Cleveland completed a sweep of the four-game season series with Indiana (18-60).

Micah Potter was outstanding for Indiana in the loss, recording a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Obi Toppin also scored 21 points off the bench to go along with eight rebounds and four assists, while two-way forward Jalen Slawson scored a career-high 19 points, going 5-for-7 from 3-point range.

But Mitchell scored a game-high 38 points to go along with six rebounds and six assists for Cleveland, going 16-for-27 from the field and tallying 23 points in the second half. Harden added 28 points and seven assists while going 5-for-11 from 3-point range and 7-for-8 from the free throw line.

The Pacers had just nine available players on Sunday, as All-Star forward Pascal Siakam (left ankle sprain/lower back bruise) and reserve guard Ben Sheppard (right hip sprain) joined an already lengthy list of players sidelined due to injuries.

“All in all, I’m just real proud of the group,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said. “To compete the way we did for three full quarters and a good chunk of the fourth, and to have a lead and to carry a lead for a long time with the group that was available was a great effort by them.”

Even shorthanded, the Blue & Gold got off to a fast start on Sunday, knocking down seven of their first nine 3-point attempts. Slawson made three 3-pointers in the first 5:42 (he had never made more than two threes in any of his previous 20 NBA games).

Potter — a Mentor, Ohio native — got the start at center and donned blue shoes during starting lineup introductions to reveal that he and his wife are expecting a baby boy. The expectant father knocked down two early shots from beyond the arc and scored eight quick points to help Indiana jump out to a 20-10 lead.

The Pacers maintained the lead throughout the first quarter, but the Cavs had whittled it down to 32-31 by the end of the frame, as Mitchell scored 11 points in the first 12 minutes.

The Blue & Gold extended their lead again early in the second quarter. Slawson scored five more points during a 13-2 Indiana run that pushed the margin back to 12.

The Cavs once again clawed back behind Harden, who scored 13 points in the second quarter. Former Pacer Thomas Bryant’s putback basket capped a 16-5 Cleveland run and made it 56-55 with 19.4 seconds remaining in the first half. But Quenton Jackson scored on the other end to give the Pacers a three-point lead at the intermission.

Cleveland took its first lead of the night early in the second half thanks to threes by Bryant and Mitchell, but the lead was short-lived. Toppin came off the bench and knocked down three 3-pointers while scoring 11 points in the third quarter.

Indiana led 91-86 late in the frame, but the Cavs scored the final four points to once again make it a one-point game entering the fourth quarter.

There were five lead changes and two ties in the first 2:30 of the final frame. Cleveland eventually surged ahead with an 11-0 spurt. They took the lead on Nae’Qwan Tomlin’s three with 9:30 to play and Mitchell and Harden then helped extend the margin to double digits.

Indiana responded with six straight points to cut the Cavs’ lead to 106-102 with under five minutes remaining, but Mitchell converted a floater and a three and then Harden added a layup to seal the win for the hosts.

Jackson tallied 15 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals for Indiana. Kobe Brown added 11 points, seven boards, and five assists.

Bryant recorded a double-double against his former team with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Keon Ellis added 13 points for Cleveland.

The Pacers will return home to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for three of their final four games. Indiana hosts Minnesota on Tuesday, travels to Brooklyn on Thursday, and then returns to Indianapolis to wrap up the 2025-26 season against Philadelphia on Friday and Detroit on Sunday.

Inside the Numbers

Potter recorded his fifth career double-double on Sunday. Four of those double-doubles have come this season for the Pacers. Potter surpassed 20 points for the third time in his career on Sunday. The 10 highest-scoring performances of his career have all been with Indiana.

Slawson reached double figures for the third time in his career and set new career bests with 19 points and five 3-pointers.

Toppin’s 21 points were a new season high. He set a new career high for both free throws made and attempted, going a perfect 10-for-10 from the charity stripe.

Cleveland outscored Indiana 54-24 in points in the paint.

The Cavs outscored the Pacers 62-50 in the second half and 27-17 in the fourth quarter to rally for the victory.

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