Game ID: 22500510
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Indiana Pacers
Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
IND 28 32 33 23 116CLE 22 31 31 36 120
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 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Sheppard missed 10 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Toppin missed 29 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 3 since 12/23, out tonight
BACK Nesmith back 12/27 after 19, 19 min since (65% of 30)
BACK Jones back 12/22 after 4, 3 min since (18% of 17)
BACK Wiseman back 12/20 after 25, 13 min since (88% of 15)
BACK Peter back 12/22 after 5, 3 min since (23% of 13)
BACK Bradley back 12/23 after 2, 7 min since (62% of 11)
IND availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Sheppard missed 11 since 12/05, returns tonight: 19 min (87% of 21)
OUT Toppin missed 30 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 4 since 12/23, out tonight
BACK Nesmith back 12/27 after 19, 21 min since (72% of 30)
BACK Jones back 12/22 after 4, 6 min since (35% of 17)
BACK Peter back 12/22 after 5, 3 min since (24% of 13)
BACK Bradley back 12/23 after 2, 8 min since (70% of 11)
IND availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Toppin missed 31 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 5 since 12/23, out tonight
BACK Nesmith back 12/27 after 19, 25 min since (84% of 30)
BACK Sheppard back 12/31 after 11, 19 min since (87% of 21)
BACK Bradley back 12/23 after 2, 9 min since (77% of 11)
IND availability going into 1/04 · 1 day's restOUT Toppin missed 32 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 6 since 12/23, out tonight
BACK Nesmith back 12/27 after 19, 26 min since (87% of 30)
BACK Sheppard back 12/31 after 11, 18 min since (82% of 21)
IND availability going into 1/06 · 1 day's restOUT Toppin missed 33 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 7 since 12/23, out tonight
BACK Nesmith back 12/27 after 19, 28 min since (93% of 30)
BACK Sheppard back 12/31 after 11, 20 min since (93% of 21)
IND availability going into 1/08 · 1 day's restOUT Mathurin missed 2 since 1/04, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 2 since 1/04, returns tonight: 18 min (98% of 18)
OUT Toppin missed 34 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 8 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Peter missed 2 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Sheppard back 12/31 after 11, 20 min since (92% of 21)
IND availability going into 1/10 · 1 day's restOUT Mathurin missed 3 since 1/04, out tonight
OUT Toppin missed 35 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 9 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Peter missed 3 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Sheppard back 12/31 after 11, 21 min since (99% of 21)
BACK Que. Jackson back 1/08 after 2, 18 min since (98% of 18)
IND availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Mathurin missed 4 since 1/04, out tonight
OUT Toppin missed 36 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 10 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Peter missed 4 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Que. Jackson back 1/08 after 2, 20 min since (111% of 18)
IND availability going into 1/14 · 1 day's restOUT Mathurin missed 5 since 1/04, out tonight
OUT Toppin missed 37 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 11 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Peter missed 5 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Que. Jackson back 1/08 after 2, 18 min since (101% of 18)
CLE availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Tomlin missed 2 since 12/25, returns tonight: 5 min (37% of 14)
OUT Nance Jr. missed 13 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Mobley back 12/25 after 5, 23 min since (69% of 33)
BACK Merrill back 12/22 after 14, 27 min since (107% of 25)
CLE availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 14 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Mobley back 12/25 after 5, 25 min since (75% of 33)
BACK Merrill back 12/22 after 14, 26 min since (106% of 25)
BACK Tomlin back 12/29 after 2, 5 min since (37% of 14)
CLE availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Ball missed 2 since 12/29, returns tonight: 15 min (71% of 21)
OUT Nance Jr. missed 15 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Mobley back 12/25 after 5, 26 min since (79% of 33)
BACK Tomlin back 12/29 after 2, 9 min since (62% of 14)
CLE availability going into 1/04 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 16 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Mobley back 12/25 after 5, 27 min since (83% of 33)
BACK Ball back 1/02 after 2, 15 min since (71% of 21)
BACK Tomlin back 12/29 after 2, 12 min since (84% of 14)
CLE availability going into 1/06 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 2 since 1/02, returns tonight: 8 min (38% of 22)
OUT Nance Jr. missed 17 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Ball back 1/02 after 2, 12 min since (59% of 21)
BACK Tomlin back 12/29 after 2, 14 min since (95% of 14)
CLE availability going into 1/08 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 18 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Proctor missed 2 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Wade back 1/06 after 2, 8 min since (38% of 22)
BACK Ball back 1/02 after 2, 12 min since (59% of 21)
BACK Tomlin back 12/29 after 2, 15 min since (104% of 14)
NEW Porter Jr. 16 to 24 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 1/10 · 1 day's restOUT Ball missed 2 since 1/06, out tonight
OUT Nance Jr. missed 19 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Bryant missed 2 since 1/06, returns tonight: 3 min (24% of 11)
OUT Proctor missed 3 since 1/04, returns tonight: 3 min (27% of 10)
BACK Wade back 1/06 after 2, 8 min since (38% of 22)
NEW Porter Jr. 16 to 23 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 2 since 1/08, out tonight
OUT Ball missed 3 since 1/06, out tonight
OUT Nance Jr. missed 20 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Bryant back 1/10 after 2, 3 min since (24% of 11)
BACK Proctor back 1/10 after 3, 3 min since (27% of 10)
NEW Porter Jr. 16 to 23 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 1/14 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 3 since 1/08, out tonight
OUT Ball missed 4 since 1/06, returns tonight: 14 min (68% of 21)
OUT Nance Jr. missed 21 since 11/30, returns tonight: 5 min (41% of 12)
BACK Bryant back 1/10 after 2, 3 min since (24% of 11)
BACK Proctor back 1/10 after 3, 3 min since (27% of 10)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 128, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Siakam at 28 and Nembhard at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Toppin (33 straight), Isa. Jackson (7 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Mitchell at 25 and Garland at 16 a game. Without Wade (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 111 a night to Indiana's 128 and the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-2 a night and Indiana minus-8. Call it Cleveland 119, Indiana 115, Indiana keeping it close.
12/29 @ HOU 119-126 — IND notes
IND lost 119-126. IND shot 50% (44 of 88) to HOU's 59%, 18 of 34 from three. IND turned it over 9 times to HOU's 16. The glass went 29-50 against them. Siakam led with 23 (8 of 16, 1 of 3 from three, 6 of 10 at the line); Mathurin added 14, Nesmith 14. Q4 was theirs, 41-21, the deficit cut from 27 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 105-78 against them. Huff's -29 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/31 vs ORL 110-112 — IND notes
IND lost 110-112. IND shot 43% (36 of 83) to ORL's 48%, 12 of 35 from three. The glass went 39-49 against them. Siakam led with 26 (9 of 20, 3 of 8 from three, 5 of 10 at the line); Mathurin added 23, Nembhard 19. Q3 was theirs, 29-26, turning a 2-point deficit into a 1-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 86-81 against them. They led by as many as 10. Huff's -16 in 11 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/02 vs SAS 113-123 — IND notes
IND lost 113-123. IND shot 51% (44 of 86) to SAS's 45%, 12 of 30 from three, and got to the line 15 times to SAS's 28. The glass went 39-49 against them. Siakam led with 23 (10 of 18); Nembhard added 19, Potter 16. Q3 was theirs, 27-22, the deficit cut from 13 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 101-86 against them. Sheppard's -17 in 17 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/04 @ ORL 127-135 — IND notes
IND lost 127-135. IND shot 55% (48 of 87) to ORL's 56%, 15 of 34 from three, and got to the line 21 times to ORL's 34. Siakam led with 34 (14 of 21, 2 of 4 from three); Nesmith added 25, Nembhard 20. Q1 was theirs, 36-28, but the other 3 periods went 107-91 against them. They led by as many as 12. Siakam's -12 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/06 vs CLE 116-120 — IND notes
IND lost 116-120. IND shot 46% (43 of 93) to CLE's 56%, 16 of 35 from three. IND turned it over 11 times to CLE's 19. The glass went 32-48 against them. Siakam led with 22 (9 of 23); Huff added 20, Nembhard 15. Q1 was theirs, 28-22, but the other 3 periods went 98-88 against them. Huff's -14 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/08 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 42 from three, 23 free throws a game; Miller at 26 and Bridges at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Kalkbrenner (9 straight), Williams (30 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Indiana comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 123, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 21 free throws a game; Siakam at 26 and Nembhard at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Mathurin (2 straight), Que. Jackson (2 straight), Toppin (34 straight). One day's rest.
So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-8 a night and Indiana minus-10 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 109 a night to Indiana's 123. Call it Charlotte 119, Indiana 113.
1/10 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 22 free throws a game; Siakam at 27 and Nembhard at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Mathurin (3 straight), Toppin (35 straight), Isa. Jackson (9 straight). One day's rest. Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 118, shooting 45 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Powell at 27 and Jaquez Jr. at 15 a game. Without Jaquez Jr. (2 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Miami wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Miami has been plus-1 a night and Indiana minus-5. Call it Miami 118, Indiana 117, Indiana keeping it close.
1/12 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 20 free throws a game; Siakam at 24 and Nembhard at 21 a game. Without Mathurin (4 straight), Toppin (36 straight), Isa. Jackson (10 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 42 from three, 14 free throws a game; Brown at 30 and White at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Minott (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-9 a night and Indiana minus-2 and the turnovers, Indiana giving it away 14 times a game to Boston's 9. Call it Boston 116, Indiana 114, Indiana keeping it close.
1/14 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 44 from three, 18 free throws a game; Siakam at 24 and Nembhard at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Mathurin (5 straight), Toppin (37 straight), Isa. Jackson (11 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 110, shooting 44 percent and 26 from three, 22 free throws a game; Barrett at 21 and Barnes at 20 a game. Without Barrett (2 straight), Poeltl (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the arc, Indiana at 44 percent from three to Toronto's 26 and the turnovers, Indiana giving it away 14 times a game to Toronto's 10. Call it Indiana 114, Toronto 113, Toronto keeping it close.
12/29 @ SAS 113-101 — CLE notes
CLE won 113-101. CLE shot 43% (41 of 96) to SAS's 39%, 13 of 42 from three, and got to the line 20 times to SAS's 36. CLE turned it over 12 times to SAS's 18. Allen led with 27 (11 of 21, 5 of 7 at the line); Mobley added 16, Garland 15. The hinge was Q4, 37-23: CLE came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 12. CLE trailed 49-55 at the half and won the second half 64-46. Mitchell was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
12/31 vs PHX 129-113 — CLE notes
CLE won 129-113. CLE shot 50% (48 of 96) to PHX's 40%, 15 of 38 from three, and went to the line 22 times to PHX's 16 — 18 points from the stripe to their 14. Mitchell led with 34 (10 of 18, 4 of 7 from three, 10 of 12 at the line); Garland added 19, Tyson 18. The hinge was Q1, 37-21: from level to 16 ahead, and the lead reached 24. Allen was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
1/02 vs DEN 113-108 — CLE notes
CLE won 113-108. CLE shot 50% (43 of 86) to DEN's 43%, 16 of 39 from three, and went to the line 19 times to DEN's 13 — 11 points from the stripe to their 11. CLE turned it over 16 times to DEN's 8, and DEN turned those into 8 steals. The glass went 55-32 for them. Mitchell led with 33 (14 of 24, 5 of 12 from three); Garland added 18, Hunter 16. The hinge was Q4, 25-11: CLE came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 5. Allen was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
1/04 vs DET 110-114 — CLE notes
CLE lost 110-114. CLE shot 44% (35 of 80) to DET's 41%, 14 of 42 from three, and went to the line 30 times to DET's 21 — 26 points from the stripe to their 21. Mitchell led with 30 (10 of 21, 3 of 10 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Garland added 16, Mobley 15. Q1 was theirs, 28-19, but the other 3 periods went 95-82 against them. Ball's -18 in 10 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/06 @ IND 120-116 — CLE notes
CLE won 120-116. CLE shot 56% (49 of 88) to IND's 46%, 10 of 26 from three. CLE turned it over 19 times to IND's 11, and IND turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 48-32 for them. Garland led with 29 (14 of 23, 1 of 4 from three); Mobley added 20, Allen 19. The hinge was Q4, 36-23: CLE came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 4. CLE trailed 53-60 at the half and won the second half 67-56.
1/08 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 110, shooting 51 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Edwards at 29 and Randle at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Mitchell at 27 and Garland at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Cleveland giving it away 16 times a game to Minnesota's 11. Call it Minnesota 119, Cleveland 113.
1/10 vs MIN — 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 116, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Mitchell at 32 and Garland at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Ball (2 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 114, shooting 51 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Edwards at 30 and Randle at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Minnesota 118, Cleveland 117, Cleveland keeping it close.
1/12 vs UTA — 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 122 a night and allowing 121, shooting 53 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Mitchell at 30 and Garland at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Wade (2 straight), Ball (3 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 131, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 18 free throws a game; Markkanen at 30 and George at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Kessler (33 straight), Bailey (2 straight), Nurkić (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-4 a night and Utah minus-7 and the arc, Cleveland at 39 percent from three to Utah's 32. Call it Cleveland 126, Utah 117.
1/14 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 26 free throws a game; Maxey at 30 and Embiid at 27 a game. One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 124, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Mitchell at 27 and Garland at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Wade (3 straight), Ball (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the defense, Philadelphia allowing 109 a night to Cleveland's 124 and the arc, Cleveland at 39 percent from three to Philadelphia's 33. Call it Philadelphia 120, Cleveland 115.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLECP C. Porter Jr.
DG D. Garland
DH D. Hunter
DW D. Wade
EM E. Mobley
JA J. Allen
JT J. Tyson
NT N. Tomlin
SM S. Merrill
INDAN A. Nembhard
AN A. Nesmith
BS B. Sheppard
ET E. Thompson
JF J. Furphy
JH J. Huff
JW J. Walker
MP M. Potter
PS P. Siakam
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
Cavaliers rally late for 120-116 win while handing the Pacers a franchise-record 13th straight loss
INDIANAPOLIS -- — Darius Garland scored 14 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter, fueling a late 13-point run that sent the Cleveland Cavaliers past the struggling Indiana Pacers 120-116 on Tuesday for their fourth win in five games.
Indiana, the defending Eastern Conference champs, lost its 13th straight to set a franchise record in its NBA era. The Pacers are now a league-worst 6-31 and are one loss away from matching the Washington Wizards ' 14-game skid for the league's longest skid this season.
The Cavs weren't even at full strength in this one.
Coach Kenny Atkinson gave All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell a day off just hours after team officials announced Max Strus was expected to miss at least another month because of a left foot injury. Atkinson said that the updated timeline was not because Strus had suffered a setback. Cleveland also lost forward Dean Wade in the first half with a bruised left knee.
And yet, Cleveland managed to erase the nine-point deficit they faced entering the fourth quarter. Evan Mobley had 20 points while Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill each scored 19. Merrill went 6 of 10 on 3-pointers.
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 22 points and Jay Huff tied his season high with 20 points, going 7 of 10 from the field wand 4 of 7 on 3s. Andrew Nembhard had 15 points and 11 assists. Indiana played without center Isaiah Jackson , swingman Bennedict Mathurin , forward Obi Toppin and All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton because of injuries.
Indiana still had a chance to force overtime in the waning seconds, but couldn't tie the score as the game turned into a free-throw contest.
The loss also delayed coach Rick Carlisle's 1,000th win for yet two more days.