Game ID: 22400543
Indiana Pacers @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Sunday, January 12, 2025 at 6:00 PM ET
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CLE 19 34 18 22 93IND 21 19 37 31 108
CLE vs IND ScoutingCLE vs IND Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
CLE availability going into 1/03 · 2 days' restOUT Okoro missed 6 since 12/20, out tonight
CLE availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Okoro missed 7 since 12/20, out tonight
CLE availability going into 1/08 · 2 days' restOUT Merrill missed 2 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 8 since 12/20, returns tonight: 13 min (70% of 18)
CLE availability going into 1/09 · back-to-backOUT Merrill missed 3 since 1/03, returns tonight: 13 min (64% of 20)
BACK Okoro back 1/08 after 8, 13 min since (70% of 18)
CLE availability going into 1/12 · 2 days' restBACK Merrill back 1/09 after 3, 13 min since (64% of 20)
BACK Okoro back 1/08 after 8, 10 min since (55% of 18)
CLE availability going into 1/14 · 1 day's restBACK Merrill back 1/09 after 3, 12 min since (62% of 20)
BACK Okoro back 1/08 after 8, 13 min since (70% of 18)
CLE availability going into 1/16 · 1 day's restOUT Jerome missed 2 since 1/12, returns tonight: 16 min (81% of 20)
BACK Merrill back 1/09 after 3, 12 min since (62% of 20)
BACK Okoro back 1/08 after 8, 11 min since (61% of 18)
CLE availability going into 1/18 · 1 day's restBACK Jerome back 1/16 after 2, 16 min since (81% of 20)
BACK Merrill back 1/09 after 3, 12 min since (61% of 20)
BACK Okoro back 1/08 after 8, 14 min since (74% of 18)
CLE availability going into 1/20 · 1 day's restBACK Jerome back 1/16 after 2, 19 min since (95% of 20)
BACK Merrill back 1/09 after 3, 11 min since (56% of 20)
IND availability going into 1/04 · 1 day's restOUT Nesmith missed 29 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 29 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 2 since 12/31, out tonight
BACK Toppin back 12/31 after 2, 16 min since (84% of 20)
NEW Mathurin 27 to 33 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 1/06 · 1 day's restOUT Nesmith missed 30 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 30 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 3 since 12/31, out tonight
BACK Toppin back 12/31 after 2, 16 min since (84% of 20)
NEW Mathurin 27 to 32 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 1/08 · 1 day's restOUT Nesmith missed 31 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 31 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 4 since 12/31, returns tonight: 1 min (10% of 14)
BACK Toppin back 12/31 after 2, 18 min since (91% of 20)
NEW Mathurin 27 to 32 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 1/10 · 1 day's restOUT Nesmith missed 32 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 32 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Toppin back 12/31 after 2, 19 min since (96% of 20)
BACK Que. Jackson back 1/08 after 4, 1 min since (10% of 14)
IND availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Nesmith missed 33 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 33 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Que. Jackson back 1/08 after 4, 1 min since (10% of 14)
IND availability going into 1/14 · 1 day's restOUT Nesmith missed 34 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 34 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 2 since 1/10, out tonight
NEW Bryant 13 to 19 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 1/16 · 1 day's restOUT Nesmith missed 35 since 11/04, returns tonight: 9 min (36% of 26)
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 35 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 3 since 1/10, out tonight
NEW Bryant 13 to 20 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 1/18 · 1 day's restOUT Isa. Jackson missed 36 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 4 since 1/10, out tonight
BACK Nesmith back 1/16 after 35, 9 min since (36% of 26)
NEW Bryant 13 to 18 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 1/23 · 4 days' restOUT Isa. Jackson missed 37 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 5 since 1/10, out tonight
BACK Nesmith back 1/16 after 35, 10 min since (39% of 26)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 117, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Garland at 23 and Mobley at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. 2 days' rest. Indiana comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 106, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Haliburton at 25 and Siakam at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Nesmith (33 straight), Isa. Jackson (33 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Indiana allowing 106 a night to Cleveland's 117. Call it Cleveland 119, Indiana 115, Indiana keeping it close.
1/03 @ DAL 134-122 — CLE notes
CLE won 134-122. CLE shot 53% (52 of 98) to DAL's 43%, 15 of 40 from three, and got to the line 20 times to DAL's 30. CLE turned it over 7 times to DAL's 12. Mobley led with 34 (14 of 21, 3 of 6 from three); LeVert added 17, Garland 16. The hinge was Q1, 32-21: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 27. Mobley was the night's best plus/minus at +32.
1/05 vs CHA 115-105 — CLE notes
CLE won 115-105. CLE shot 48% (44 of 92) to CHA's 42%, 15 of 43 from three. Garland led with 25 (8 of 14, 4 of 7 from three); Mitchell added 19, Allen 19. The hinge was Q2, 34-25: a lead of 6 became 15, and the lead reached 24. Strus was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
1/08 vs OKC 129-122 — CLE notes
CLE won 129-122. CLE shot 52% (47 of 90) to OKC's 53%, 15 of 36 from three, and went to the line 27 times to OKC's 17 — 20 points from the stripe to their 15. Allen led with 25 (9 of 11, 7 of 10 at the line); Mobley added 21, Garland 18. The hinge was Q2, 37-27: CLE came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 3. Okoro was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
1/09 vs TOR 132-126 — CLE notes
CLE won 132-126. CLE shot 53% (47 of 89) to TOR's 60%, 18 of 45 from three, and went to the line 25 times to TOR's 13 — 20 points from the stripe to their 6. Garland led with 40 (14 of 22, 4 of 7 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Mobley added 21, LeVert 18. The hinge was Q4, 34-23: CLE came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 6. Garland was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
1/12 vs IND 93-108 — CLE notes
CLE lost 93-108. CLE shot 40% (33 of 83) to IND's 47%, 11 of 41 from three. Garland led with 20 (7 of 16, 3 of 9 from three); Mitchell added 19, Mobley 16. Q2 was theirs, 34-19, turning a 2-point deficit into a 13-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 89-59 against them. They led by as many as 15. Strus's -23 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/14 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 102, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Siakam at 21 and Haliburton at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Nesmith (34 straight), Isa. Jackson (34 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Garland at 24 and Mobley at 22 a game. One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the defense, Indiana allowing 102 a night to Cleveland's 117 and the glass, where Indiana has been plus-3 a night and Cleveland minus-3. Call it Indiana 116, Cleveland 114, Cleveland keeping it close.
1/16 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 104, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 32 and Jal. Williams at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Holmgren (29 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 116, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Garland at 25 and Mitchell at 21 a game. Without Jerome (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 104 a night to Cleveland's 116 and the arc, OKC at 40 percent from three to Cleveland's 35. Call it OKC 117, Cleveland 111.
1/18 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 107, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 25 free throws a game; Edwards at 28 and DiVincenzo at 20 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Garland at 24 and Mitchell at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 107 a night to Cleveland's 121 and the arc, Minnesota at 43 percent from three to Cleveland's 35. Call it Minnesota 115, Cleveland 114, Cleveland keeping it close.
1/20 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 120, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Garland at 27 and Mitchell at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 28 free throws a game; Booker at 34 and Durant at 28 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Beal (2 straight), Nurkić (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-5 a night and Phoenix minus-7 and the arc, Phoenix at 39 percent from three to Cleveland's 34. Call it Cleveland 119, Phoenix 116, Phoenix keeping it close.
1/04 vs PHX 126-108 — IND notes
IND won 126-108. IND shot 48% (46 of 96) to PHX's 49%, 15 of 40 from three. IND turned it over 6 times to PHX's 11. The glass went 47-36 for them. Haliburton led with 27 (8 of 19, 5 of 12 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Turner added 20, Siakam 15. The hinge was Q3, 40-28: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 20. Mathurin was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
1/06 @ BKN 113-99 — IND notes
IND won 113-99. IND shot 51% (40 of 79) to BKN's 42%, 12 of 31 from three, and went to the line 23 times to BKN's 11 — 21 points from the stripe to their 7. The glass went 35-51 against them. Haliburton led with 23 (5 of 12, 4 of 7 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Mathurin added 20, Siakam 19. The hinge was Q2, 31-17: a lead of 2 became 16, and the lead reached 24. Mathurin was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
1/08 vs CHI 129-113 — IND notes
IND won 129-113. IND shot 52% (52 of 100) to CHI's 51%, 10 of 29 from three. IND turned it over 8 times to CHI's 18. Siakam led with 26 (11 of 17, 3 of 7 from three); Bryant added 22, Haliburton 16. The hinge was Q1, 29-18: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 34. Haliburton was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
1/10 vs GSW 108-96 — IND notes
IND won 108-96. IND shot 52% (43 of 82) to GSW's 42%, 9 of 27 from three, and went to the line 19 times to GSW's 13 — 13 points from the stripe to their 10. Haliburton led with 25 (8 of 10, 2 of 4 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Siakam added 25, Mathurin 21. The hinge was Q3, 30-25: a lead of 5 became 10, and the lead reached 17. Mathurin was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
1/12 @ CLE 108-93 — IND notes
IND won 108-93. IND shot 47% (43 of 92) to CLE's 40%, 11 of 35 from three. Nembhard led with 19 (7 of 11, 2 of 4 from three); Siakam added 18, Turner 15. The hinge was Q3, 37-18: IND came in trailing by 13 and left it ahead by 6, and the lead reached 18. IND trailed 40-53 at the half and won the second half 68-40. Walker was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
1/14 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 102, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Siakam at 21 and Haliburton at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Nesmith (34 straight), Isa. Jackson (34 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Garland at 24 and Mobley at 22 a game. One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the defense, Indiana allowing 102 a night to Cleveland's 117 and the glass, where Indiana has been plus-3 a night and Cleveland minus-3. Call it Indiana 116, Cleveland 114, Cleveland keeping it close.
1/16 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 18 free throws a game; Cunningham at 27 and Hardaway Jr. at 18 a game. 2 days' rest. Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 106, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Siakam at 22 and Haliburton at 16 a game. Without Nesmith (35 straight), Isa. Jackson (35 straight). One day's rest.
So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the arc, Detroit at 42 percent from three to Indiana's 36. Call it Detroit 114, Indiana 112, Indiana keeping it close.
1/18 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Siakam at 24 and Turner at 18 a game. Without Isa. Jackson (36 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Maxey at 30 and George at 25 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without C. Martin (3 straight), Embiid (6 straight), Lowry (6 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Indiana has been minus-2 a night and Philadelphia minus-8 and the defense, Indiana allowing 106 a night to Philadelphia's 115. Call it Indiana 115, Philadelphia 108.
1/23 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 104, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Siakam at 23 and Turner at 18 a game. Without Isa. Jackson (37 straight). 4 days' rest. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 124, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Vassell at 20 and Wembanyama at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Sochan (5 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the defense, Indiana allowing 104 a night to San Antonio's 124 and the glass, where Indiana has been plus-1 a night and San Antonio minus-5. Call it Indiana 117, San Antonio 110.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLECL C. LeVert
CP C. Porter Jr.
DG D. Garland
DM D. Mitchell
DW D. Wade
EM E. Mobley
GN G. Niang
IO I. Okoro
JA J. Allen
JT J. Tyson
MS M. Strus
SM S. Merrill
TT T. Thompson
INDAN A. Nembhard
BM B. Mathurin
BS B. Sheppard
JF J. Furphy
JW J. Walker
MT M. Turner
OT O. Toppin
PS P. Siakam
TB T. Bryant
TH T. Haliburton
TM T. McConnell
CLE/IND the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Pacers end NBA-leading Cavaliers' winning streak at 12 with 108-93 victory
CLEVELAND -- — Andrew Nembhard scored 19 points, Pascal Siakam had 18 points and nine rebounds and the Indiana Pacers ended NBA-leading Cleveland's winning streak at 12 games, beating the Cavaliers 108-93 on Sunday night.
The teams will complete the home-and-home set Tuesday night in Indianapolis.
Myles Turner added 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Jarace Walker had eight points and 12 rebounds off the bench to help Indiana win its sixth straight. The Pacers held the Cavaliers to a season low in points and outscored them 68-40 in the second half.
Cleveland lost for the first time since Dec. 8 at Miami. It is 33-5 overall and 20-2 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Darius Garland had 20 points and seven assists for the Cavs. Donovan Mitchell scored 19 points and Evan Mobley had 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Takeaways Pacers: All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton , who has appeared in all 40 games and is averaging team highs of 8.9 assists and 35.0 minutes, sat out the second half after experiencing left hamstring tightness. He had two points and five assists.
Cavaliers: Indiana coach Rick Carlisle raved about Cleveland’s depth and style under new coach Kenny Atkinson, saying, “They don’t have any weaknesses. I mean, you can’t find any. All of their guys can score and those guys play defense, too.”
Key moment Immediately after the Cavaliers built their largest lead at 60-45 in the third, Indiana used a 32-7 run to seize a double-digit advantage. Backup power forward Obi Toppin fueled the surge with 10 points in a five-minute span, including a steal-and-slam in the backcourt.
Key stat The Cavaliers, who are shooting a league-high 40.1% on 3-pointers, made just 11 of 41. They misfired on 15 of their first 16 attempts in the second half and finished with a season-low 26.8%. Mitchell and Garland combined for six of their makes.