Indiana Pacers game preview: Cleveland Cavaliers host Pacers as Indiana clings to play-in life
The Indiana Pacers will battle the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night for the fourth and final time of the 2022-23 season. Cleveland won two of the first three meetings.
The Cavaliers need just two more wins this season to clinch a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. They are trying to hold off the New York Knicks, who the Pacers play two more times this campaign. Indiana, meanwhile, needs to win at least three of their final four games to have a shot at reaching the play-in tournament.
Viewing and Betting Information
Tip off time: 8 p.m. Eastern Time
Location: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Where to watch: NBA League Pass, Bally Sports Indiana/Bally Sports+, Bally Sports Ohio
Spread and Over/Under: The Pacers are heavy underdogs as they are +12.5 in the SI Sportsbook. The over/under for the game is 229.5.
Pacers vs Cavaliers Injury Report
For the Pacers, wing Kendall Brown (right tibia stress fracture), wing Chris Duarte (left ankle soreness), and guard Tyrese Haliburton (right ankle sprain/left ankle soreness) are all out. Center Myles Turner (left ankle soreness) is questionable. Guard Gabe York, who the Pacers just signed, is questionable as a part of his two-way contract.
For the Cavaliers, Isaac Okoro and Dylan Windler are out. Jarrett Allen is questionable.
Key Matchups
Bennedict Mathurin vs Donovan Mitchell: Cavaliers superstar guard Donovan Mitchell can take over games. He had 42 points in Cleveland's last outing, and he is averaging 27.9 points per game and is likely going to be named to an All-NBA team. He is a tremendous talent.
He will line up across from Pacers rookie guard Bennedict Mathruin tonight. Mathurin has been getting more responsibilities recently as a starter, and defending Mitchell is just another one of those responsibilities. On top of that, he will look to score and make plays with the ball — he is averaging 15.6 points and 1.3 assists per game as a starter in the last few weeks.
Jordan Nwora vs Evan Mobley: Jordan Nwora has scored in double figures in 15 of his last 17 games and has proven to be an effective offensive player since being traded to the Pacers. He is adding some playmaking duties to his nightly checklist as well.
Tonight, he will face off with Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley, who is perhaps the best defensive player in the NBA. Nwora must make his shots and be engaged on offense to keep the Cavs center on his toes and away from the play.
- Indiana Pacers sign guard Gabe York to a two-way contract. CLICK HERE.
- Indiana Pacers playing without key players as season winds down. CLICK HERE.
- Rick Carlisle on the Indiana Pacers stretch run: 'Guys are learning and they are finding out what it's about'. CLICK HERE.
- Cleveland Cavaliers clinch playoff berth, will officially send first-round draft pick to Indiana Pacers. CLICK HERE.
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