Game ID: 22400554
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Indiana Pacers
Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 7:00 PM ET
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
IND 30 31 28 28 117CLE 37 25 38 27 127
CLE @ IND ScoutingCLE @ 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.
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)
IND availability going into 1/25 · 1 day's restOUT Isa. Jackson missed 38 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 6 since 1/10, out tonight
BACK Nesmith back 1/16 after 35, 13 min since (50% of 26)
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)
CLE availability going into 1/22 · 1 day's restOUT Mobley missed 2 since 1/18, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 2 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK Jerome back 1/16 after 2, 19 min since (97% of 20)
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.
1/06 @ 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 117-127 — IND notes
IND lost 117-127. IND shot 48% (44 of 91) to CLE's 48%, 12 of 28 from three, and got to the line 22 times to CLE's 31. The glass went 37-49 against them. Siakam led with 23 (10 of 16); Mathurin added 19, Turner 17. Q2 was theirs, 31-25, the deficit cut from 7 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 102-86 against them. Turner's -20 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
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.
1/25 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 122, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Vassell at 23 and Wembanyama at 21 a game. One day's rest. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Siakam at 21 and Turner at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Isa. Jackson (38 straight). One day's rest.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the glass, where San Antonio has been plus-3 a night and Indiana minus-6 and the defense, Indiana allowing 112 a night to San Antonio's 122. Call it San Antonio 116, Indiana 114, Indiana keeping it close.
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 127-117 — CLE notes
CLE won 127-117. CLE shot 48% (43 of 89) to IND's 48%, 15 of 44 from three, and went to the line 31 times to IND's 22 — 26 points from the stripe to their 17. The glass went 49-37 for them. Mitchell led with 35 (12 of 23, 3 of 9 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Garland added 24, Mobley 22. The hinge was Q3, 38-28: a lead of 1 became 11, and the lead reached 15. Mitchell was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
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.
1/22 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Green at 30 and Sengun at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Smith Jr. (9 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 114, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Garland at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Mobley (2 straight), Okoro (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Houston at 41 percent from three to Cleveland's 34. Call it Houston 116, Cleveland 113, Cleveland keeping it close.
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
MS M. Strus
SM S. Merrill
INDAN A. Nembhard
BM B. Mathurin
BS B. Sheppard
JW J. Walker
MT M. Turner
OT O. Toppin
PS P. Siakam
RD R. Dennis
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
NBA-leading Cavaliers end Pacers' 6-game winning streak with a 127-117 victory
INDIANAPOLIS -- — Donovan Mitchell scored 35 points and the NBA-leading Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Indiana Pacers 127-117 on Tuesday night.
Darius Garland scored 24 points and Evan Mobley added 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Cavaliers.
Pascal Siakam scored 23 points and Bennedict Mathurin 19 for the Pacers, who had their six-game winning streak halted. Myles Turned added 17 points.
The Cavaliers led 82-77 in the third quarter before going on a 10-0 run that included 3-pointers by Max Strus , Georges Niang and Mobley. Cleveland led 100-89 after three periods.
Indiana cut its deficit to 111-106, but could get no closer.
With Indiana trailing 120-111, Mathurin lost his cool and was ejected after drawing his second technical with 3:58 left. Mitchell sank both technical free throws and Mobley hit one of two free throws.
The Pacers had ended the host Cavaliers’ 12-game winning streak with a 108-93 victory on Sunday night.
Indiana played without All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton , who was sidelined with left groin strain.
Takeaways Cavaliers: Cleveland was able to bounce back from their first loss since Dec. 8 with a 49-37 rebounding edge. The Cavaliers shut down Siakam in the second half, limiting him to two points and five shots.
Pacers: Indiana missed Haliburton, and his replacement, Ben Sheppard , had just two assists and shot 1 for 6.
Key moment After the Pacers closed the deficit to 115-109, Garland sank a 27-foot, 3-pointer to put Cleveland ahead 118-109 with 4:48 left.
Key stat The Cavaliers sank 26 of 31 free throws. That was nine more free throws than the Pacers (17 of 22). Both teams shot 48% from the field.
Up next The Cavaliers are at Oklahoma City on Thursday in a matchup of the East and West conference leaders. The Pacers are at Detroit on Thursday.