Game ID: 22401189
Indiana Pacers @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Sunday, April 13, 2025 at 1:00 PM ET
Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT1 OT2 Final
CLE 32 29 24 20 4 9 118IND 26 18 23 38 4 17 126
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 4/06 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 2 since 4/02, returns tonight: 4 min (17% of 20)
OUT Jerome missed 5 since 3/27, returns tonight: 23 min (116% of 20)
BACK Tomlin back 4/02 after 17, 2 min since (17% of 13)
CLE availability going into 4/08 · 1 day's restOUT Tomlin missed 2 since 4/04, out tonight
BACK Wade back 4/06 after 2, 4 min since (17% of 20)
BACK Jerome back 4/06 after 5, 23 min since (116% of 20)
CLE availability going into 4/10 · 1 day's restOUT Tomlin missed 3 since 4/04, out tonight
BACK Wade back 4/06 after 2, 12 min since (59% of 20)
BACK Jerome back 4/06 after 5, 22 min since (111% of 20)
CLE availability going into 4/11 · back-to-backOUT Mitchell missed 2 since 4/08, out tonight
OUT Tomlin missed 4 since 4/04, out tonight
BACK Wade back 4/06 after 2, 18 min since (87% of 20)
BACK Jerome back 4/06 after 5, 23 min since (117% of 20)
CLE availability going into 4/13 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 3 since 4/08, out tonight
OUT Tomlin missed 5 since 4/04, returns tonight: 47 min (369% of 13)
BACK Wade back 4/06 after 2, 20 min since (98% of 20)
BACK Jerome back 4/06 after 5, 23 min since (117% of 20)
CLE availability going into 4/20 · 6 days' restOUT Mitchell missed 4 since 4/08, returns tonight: 33 min (106% of 32)
OUT Hunter missed 2 since 4/11, returns tonight: 16 min (65% of 25)
OUT Jerome missed 2 since 4/11, returns tonight: 26 min (132% of 20)
OUT Merrill missed 2 since 4/11, returns tonight: 24 min (121% of 20)
BACK Wade back 4/06 after 2, 20 min since (98% of 20)
BACK Tomlin back 4/13 after 5, 47 min since (369% of 13)
NEW Okoro 18 to 24 min over the last 4
CLE availability going into 4/23 · 2 days' restBACK Mitchell back 4/20 after 4, 33 min since (106% of 32)
BACK Hunter back 4/20 after 2, 16 min since (65% of 25)
BACK Jerome back 4/20 after 2, 26 min since (132% of 20)
BACK Merrill back 4/20 after 2, 24 min since (121% of 20)
BACK Tomlin back 4/13 after 5, 47 min since (369% of 13)
CLE availability going into 4/26 · 2 days' restBACK Mitchell back 4/20 after 4, 34 min since (109% of 32)
BACK Hunter back 4/20 after 2, 20 min since (80% of 25)
BACK Jerome back 4/20 after 2, 25 min since (124% of 20)
BACK Merrill back 4/20 after 2, 22 min since (110% of 20)
BACK Tomlin back 4/13 after 5, 47 min since (369% of 13)
CLE availability going into 4/28 · 1 day's restBACK Mitchell back 4/20 after 4, 33 min since (105% of 32)
BACK Hunter back 4/20 after 2, 23 min since (92% of 25)
BACK Jerome back 4/20 after 2, 24 min since (119% of 20)
BACK Merrill back 4/20 after 2, 21 min since (106% of 20)
BACK Tomlin back 4/13 after 5, 47 min since (369% of 13)
IND availability going into 4/06 · 1 day's restOUT Isa. Jackson missed 71 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 3 since 3/31, out tonight
BACK Mathurin back 4/04 after 3, 23 min since (85% of 27)
NEW Walker 15 to 22 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 4/08 · 1 day's restOUT Isa. Jackson missed 72 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 4 since 3/31, out tonight
BACK Mathurin back 4/04 after 3, 22 min since (81% of 27)
NEW Walker 15 to 21 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 4/10 · 1 day's restOUT Sheppard missed 2 since 4/06, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 73 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 5 since 3/31, out tonight
BACK Mathurin back 4/04 after 3, 24 min since (88% of 27)
IND availability going into 4/11 · back-to-backOUT Sheppard missed 3 since 4/06, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 74 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 6 since 3/31, returns tonight: 20 min (147% of 14)
BACK Mathurin back 4/04 after 3, 24 min since (88% of 27)
IND availability going into 4/13 · 1 day's restOUT Sheppard missed 4 since 4/06, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 75 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Mathurin back 4/04 after 3, 27 min since (101% of 27)
BACK Que. Jackson back 4/11 after 6, 20 min since (147% of 14)
IND availability going into 4/19 · 5 days' restOUT Haliburton missed 2 since 4/11, returns tonight: 34 min (102% of 34)
OUT Siakam missed 2 since 4/11, returns tonight: 33 min (100% of 33)
OUT Sheppard missed 5 since 4/06, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 76 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Que. Jackson back 4/11 after 6, 30 min since (219% of 14)
NEW Walker 15 to 21 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 4/22 · 2 days' restOUT Sheppard missed 6 since 4/06, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 77 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Haliburton back 4/19 after 2, 34 min since (102% of 34)
BACK Siakam back 4/19 after 2, 33 min since (100% of 33)
BACK Que. Jackson back 4/11 after 6, 30 min since (219% of 14)
NEW Walker 15 to 20 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 4/25 · 2 days' restOUT Sheppard missed 7 since 4/06, returns tonight: 15 min (85% of 18)
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 78 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Haliburton back 4/19 after 2, 35 min since (103% of 34)
BACK Siakam back 4/19 after 2, 34 min since (102% of 33)
BACK Que. Jackson back 4/11 after 6, 30 min since (219% of 14)
NEW Walker 15 to 22 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 4/27 · 1 day's restOUT Isa. Jackson missed 79 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Haliburton back 4/19 after 2, 34 min since (100% of 34)
BACK Siakam back 4/19 after 2, 33 min since (100% of 33)
BACK Sheppard back 4/25 after 7, 15 min since (85% of 18)
BACK Que. Jackson back 4/11 after 6, 30 min since (219% of 14)
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 116 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 18 free throws a game; Jerome at 21 and Garland at 20 a game. Without Mitchell (3 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 30 free throws a game; Turner at 19 and Siakam at 19 a game. Without Sheppard (4 straight), Isa. Jackson (75 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the line, where Indiana takes 30 free throws a game to Cleveland's 18 and the arc, Cleveland at 41 percent from three to Indiana's 34. Call it Cleveland 118, Indiana 114, Indiana keeping it close.
4/06 vs SAC 113-120 — CLE notes
CLE lost 113-120. CLE shot 52% (46 of 88) to SAC's 54%, 10 of 38 from three. Jerome led with 20 (9 of 13, 1 of 4 from three); Mitchell added 19, Allen 17. Q2 was theirs, 30-25, turning a 4-point deficit into a 1-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 95-83 against them. Hunter's -28 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/08 vs CHI 135-113 — CLE notes
CLE won 135-113. CLE shot 51% (51 of 100) to CHI's 48%, 25 of 50 from three, and got to the line 13 times to CHI's 19. CLE turned it over 12 times to CHI's 20. Garland led with 28 (10 of 17, 6 of 10 from three); Mobley added 21, Jerome 18. The hinge was Q2, 43-24: a lead of 1 became 20, and the lead reached 27. Strus was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
4/10 @ IND 112-114 — CLE notes
CLE lost 112-114. CLE shot 44% (43 of 98) to IND's 46%, 17 of 37 from three, and got to the line 13 times to IND's 20. Jerome led with 24 (9 of 16, 4 of 6 from three); Hunter added 23, Porter Jr. 16. Q2 was theirs, 33-24, turning a 5-point deficit into a 4-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 90-79 against them. They led by as many as 11. Green's -14 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/11 @ NYK 108-102 — CLE notes
CLE won 108-102. CLE shot 49% (38 of 77) to NYK's 41%, 11 of 31 from three, and went to the line 30 times to NYK's 20 — 21 points from the stripe to their 14. CLE turned it over 15 times to NYK's 8, and NYK turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 49-35 for them. Garland led with 26 (10 of 17, 1 of 5 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Strus added 19, Mobley 16. The hinge was Q4, 30-16: CLE came in trailing by 8 and left it ahead by 6. CLE trailed 50-62 at the half and won the second half 58-40. Allen was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
4/13 vs IND 118-126 — CLE notes
CLE lost 118-126 in 2 overtimes. CLE shot 38% (44 of 115) to IND's 40%, 18 of 60 from three. CLE turned it over 21 times to IND's 13, and IND turned those into 15 steals. Tyson led with 31 (12 of 25, 4 of 12 from three); Bates added 25, Tomlin 24. Q2 was theirs, 29-18, but the other 5 periods went 108-89 against them. They led by as many as 27. Thompson's -25 in 43 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/20 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Garland at 21 and Jerome at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Mitchell (4 straight), Hunter (2 straight), Jerome (2 straight). 6 days' rest. Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 16 free throws a game; Adebayo at 24 and Herro at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Jović (27 straight). 6 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Cleveland giving it away 15 times a game to Miami's 11. Call it Cleveland 117, Miami 114, Miami keeping it close.
4/23 vs MIA — 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 119 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 19 free throws a game; Garland at 27 and Jerome at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest. Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 114, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Herro at 23 and Adebayo at 22 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Cleveland 117, Miami 113, Miami keeping it close.
4/26 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 117, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 16 free throws a game; Herro at 26 and Adebayo at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Rozier (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 111, shooting 45 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Garland at 25 and Jerome at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Cleveland takes 21 free throws a game to Miami's 16 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 111 a night to Miami's 117. Call it Cleveland 115, Miami 114, Miami keeping it close.
4/28 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 118, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 14 free throws a game; Herro at 22 and Adebayo at 20 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Rozier (3 straight), Burks (2 straight), Anderson (2 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 105, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Garland at 25 and Mitchell at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 105 a night to Miami's 118 and the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-7 a night and Miami plus-1. Call it Cleveland 116, Miami 112, Miami keeping it close.
4/06 @ DEN 125-120 — IND notes
IND won 125-120. IND shot 48% (46 of 96) to DEN's 54%, 15 of 44 from three. IND turned it over 6 times to DEN's 13. Turner led with 24 (8 of 16, 4 of 10 from three); Toppin added 22, Nembhard 19. The hinge was Q3, 37-31: IND came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 1. IND trailed 61-66 at the half and won the second half 64-54.
4/08 vs WAS 104-98 — IND notes
IND won 104-98. IND shot 38% (33 of 87) to WAS's 42%, 9 of 35 from three, and went to the line 37 times to WAS's 15 — 29 points from the stripe to their 11. Siakam led with 24 (11 of 19); Haliburton added 22, Mathurin 17. The hinge was Q2, 27-13: IND came in trailing by 14 and left it level. Toppin was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
4/10 vs CLE 114-112 — IND notes
IND won 114-112. IND shot 46% (43 of 93) to CLE's 44%, 14 of 41 from three, and went to the line 20 times to CLE's 13 — 14 points from the stripe to their 9. Haliburton led with 23 (8 of 16, 4 of 11 from three); Nesmith added 22, Walker 15. The hinge was Q1, 28-23: from level to 5 ahead. IND trailed 52-56 at the half and won the second half 62-56.
4/11 vs ORL 115-129 — IND notes
IND lost 115-129. IND shot 45% (40 of 89) to ORL's 58%, 12 of 29 from three, and went to the line 35 times to ORL's 21 — 23 points from the stripe to their 18. Mathurin led with 20 (5 of 17, 1 of 4 from three, 9 of 13 at the line); Furphy added 17, Walker 15. Q4 was theirs, 39-20, the deficit cut from 33 to 14, but the other 3 periods went 109-76 against them. Bryant's -23 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/13 @ CLE 126-118 — IND notes
IND won 126-118 in 2 overtimes. IND shot 40% (48 of 119) to CLE's 38%, 10 of 42 from three. IND turned it over 13 times to CLE's 21. Jackson led with 21 (7 of 16, 0 of 4 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Furphy added 15, Bradley 14. The hinge was Q4, 38-20: IND came in trailing by 18 and left it level. IND trailed 44-61 at the half and won the second half 82-57. Dennis was the night's best plus/minus at +35.
4/19 vs MIL — 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 117 a night and allowing 115, shooting 43 percent and 31 from three, 27 free throws a game; Haliburton at 18 and Turner at 15 a game. Without Haliburton (2 straight), Siakam (2 straight), Sheppard (5 straight). 5 days' rest. Milwaukee comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 25 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 28 and Porter Jr. at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Lillard (14 straight). 5 days' rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the arc, Milwaukee at 41 percent from three to Indiana's 31. Call it Indiana 117, Milwaukee 116, Milwaukee keeping it close.
4/22 vs MIL — 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 111, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 28 free throws a game; Siakam at 20 and Haliburton at 18 a game. Without Sheppard (6 straight), Isa. Jackson (77 straight). 2 days' rest. Milwaukee comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 26 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 30 and Porter Jr. at 17 a game. Without Lillard (15 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the arc, Milwaukee at 39 percent from three to Indiana's 32. Call it Indiana 117, Milwaukee 114, Milwaukee keeping it close.
4/25 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 121, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 25 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 32 and Connaughton at 17 a game. 2 days' rest. Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Siakam at 20 and Haliburton at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Sheppard (7 straight), Isa. Jackson (78 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the arc, Milwaukee at 40 percent from three to Indiana's 36 and the defense, Indiana allowing 114 a night to Milwaukee's 121. Call it Milwaukee 118, Indiana 116, Indiana keeping it close.
4/27 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 35 and Trent Jr. at 16 a game. One day's rest. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Siakam at 26 and Haliburton at 15 a game. Without Isa. Jackson (79 straight). One day's rest.
So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the arc, Milwaukee at 40 percent from three to Indiana's 35. Call it Milwaukee 117, Indiana 115, Indiana keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLECO C. Okeke
CP C. Porter Jr.
EB E. Bates
JA J. Allen
JG J. Green
JT J. Tyson
LT L. Travers
NT N. Tomlin
TT T. Thompson
INDAN A. Nembhard
AN A. Nesmith
EF E. Freeman
JF J. Furphy
JW J. Walker
MT M. Turner
OT O. Toppin
QJ Q. Jackson
RD R. Dennis
TB T. Bradley
TB T. Bryant
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 rally from 23-point deficit in 4th quarter to defeat Cavaliers 126-118 in double overtime
CLEVELAND -- — Quenton Jackson scored 21 points, RayJ Dennis had seven points in the second overtime and the Indiana Pacers rallied for a 126-118 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday after trailing by 23 with 7:35 remaining in regulation.
Tony Bradley added 14 points. His hook shot with 4:41 remaining in double overtime put Indiana up by two and gave it the lead for the first time since there was 4:21 left in the first quarter.
The Pacers (50-32), who'll be the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference in the playoffs, reached 50 wins for the first time since the 2013-14 season. Indiana reached the milestone even though two starters and four regular rotation players didn't play.
Jaylon Tyson scored a career-high 31 points for Cleveland (64-18), which ended the regular season with three straight losses after clinching the top seed in the Eastern Conference. .
Cleveland sat out nine of its regular rotation players, including four starters. Jarrett Allen was the only Cavaliers starter to see playing time, marking the first time in his eight-year career he played in all 82 games.
The Cavaliers had a 27-point advantage during the third quarter and were up 96-73 until Indiana rallied with a 32-9 run to even it at 105 with 10.5 seconds remaining.
Takeaways Pacers: Took three of four from the Cavaliers in the regular-season series. Both teams could meet again in the second round of the playoffs.
Cavaliers: Emoni Bates scored 25 and Nae’Qwan Tomlin had 24 points and 12 rebounds in his fifth NBA game and first career start.
Key moment After Bradley's bucket, Dennis scored Indiana's next seven points, including a 3-pointer to make it 118-111.
Key stat Allen missed his only shot, but became the third player in NBA history to average at least 13 points and shoot at least 70% from the field. Allen, who averaged 13.5 points and shot 70.6%.
Up next Indiana will have home court in its first-round series against Milwaukee. Cleveland won't know its first-round opponent until Friday night when the play-in tournament concludes.