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NBA · Regular season, NBA Cup game

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Indiana Pacers: Preview and Stats

Cleveland Cavaliers 6-6
vs
Indiana Pacers 4-8
Rocket Arena, Cleveland

Our picks

Our picks for Cleveland Cavaliers vs Indiana Pacers come out after the official NBA injury report, at most 48 hours before tip-off, and at the latest (3 hours before tip-off).

We are waiting for the result of a team's previous game.

Our NBA model track record for this matchup

Our winner picks on these teams

  • Cleveland Cavaliers 7 of 12 right (58%)
  • Indiana Pacers 7 of 12 right (58%)

Settled NBA winner picks since 22 Oct 2026.

Game details

Stage
NBA, Regular season, NBA Cup game
Tip-off
Arena
Rocket Arena
City
Cleveland
Since last match
Cleveland Cavaliers: Memphis Grizzlies Indiana Pacers: Houston Rockets
Next match
Cleveland Cavaliers: Chicago Bulls Indiana Pacers: New York Knicks

Missing production & availability impact

Share of last 10 games' offensive creation (PTS + AST) and minutes sidelined.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Official NBA injury report not yet filed for this matchup.

Indiana Pacers

Official NBA injury report not yet filed for this matchup.

Official NBA injury report

Cleveland Cavaliers

Official NBA injury report not yet filed for this matchup.

Indiana Pacers

Official NBA injury report not yet filed for this matchup.

Expected 8-man core rotation

Projected starters and key bench from recent usage and the official injury report.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Projected Starters
  • G James Harden
    32.5 MPG 17.2 PPG 4.4 RPG 5.5 APG
  • G Donovan Mitchell
    32.4 MPG 22.0 PPG 4.5 RPG 5.9 APG
  • C Evan Mobley
    31.6 MPG 16.5 PPG 7.0 RPG 3.7 APG
  • G Peyton Watson
    27.1 MPG 11.4 PPG 5.2 RPG 2.8 APG
  • C Jarrett Allen
    24.6 MPG 11.8 PPG 8.5 RPG 1.8 APG
Key Bench
  • G Meleek Thomas
    22.9 MPG 13.1 PPG 2.8 RPG 1.2 APG
  • G Sam Merrill
    23.3 MPG 8.1 PPG 3.4 RPG 1.7 APG
  • G-F Mario Hezonja
    18.9 MPG 7.5 PPG 5.7 RPG 1.5 APG

Indiana Pacers

Projected Starters
  • F Pascal Siakam
    32.2 MPG 21.9 PPG 7.2 RPG 4.9 APG
  • G-F Andrew Nembhard
    33.4 MPG 17.1 PPG 2.1 RPG 8.0 APG
  • G-F Aaron Nesmith
    25.7 MPG 12.0 PPG 2.0 RPG 1.8 APG
  • G Quenton Jackson
    22.7 MPG 10.0 PPG 3.7 RPG 2.7 APG
  • G-F Kelly Oubre Jr.
    23.5 MPG 11.1 PPG 2.9 RPG 1.1 APG
Key Bench
  • F Jarace Walker
    21.7 MPG 7.7 PPG 5.7 RPG 1.7 APG
  • C Jay Huff
    19.0 MPG 7.8 PPG 4.0 RPG 1.0 APG
  • F Obi Toppin
    20.1 MPG 11.7 PPG 5.0 RPG 1.7 APG

OptimaGoal power & pace ratings

Full NBA power ratings

Neutral-court net point rating and 48-minute tempo rank across all 30 NBA franchises.

Cleveland Cavaliers

#11 of 30
Net rating +1.5 30d: -3.0
Pace: -1.5 (#15 of 30)

Indiana Pacers

#19 of 30
Net rating -1.8 30d: -0.6
Pace: -0.7 (#8 of 30)

OptimaGoal tactical & efficiency profile (0–100)

Original 0–100 indices built from each team's last 10 played games before tip-off.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Net 58
Shot quality (TS%) 53
3PT volume & accuracy 66
Ball security & passing 70
Rebounding control 47
Defensive disruption 55

ORtg 115.3 · DRtg 112.4 · Net +2.9 · TS 58.2%

Indiana Pacers

Net 46
Shot quality (TS%) 50
3PT volume & accuracy 51
Ball security & passing 47
Rebounding control 30
Defensive disruption 52

ORtg 108.8 · DRtg 110.3 · Net -1.6 · TS 57.8%

Cleveland Cavaliers · Record vs point differential W-L record aligned with point differential 6W actual vs 6.7W expected (12 GP)
Indiana Pacers · Record vs point differential Stronger profile than W-L (bounce candidate) 4W actual vs 5.1W expected (12 GP)

Halftime splits & clutch profile

Game-state outcomes and half-by-half scoring share over the last 15 games.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Win rate when leading at HT 4/5 (80%)
Comeback wins when trailing at HT 2/10 (20%)
Scoring split (1H vs 2H)
1H: 55.5 (49.3%) 2H: 57.2 (50.7%)
Clutch (≤5 pts / OT): 2-2 10+ pt margins: 3-5

Indiana Pacers

Win rate when leading at HT 4/6 (67%)
Comeback wins when trailing at HT 1/9 (11%)
Scoring split (1H vs 2H)
1H: 55.1 (49.3%) 2H: 56.7 (50.7%)
Clutch (≤5 pts / OT): 2-3 10+ pt margins: 3-5

Scoring environment and threshold hit counts across the last 10 games.

CLEIND
Points scored / game 116.6 111.1
Points allowed / game 113.7 112.7
Average game total 230.3 223.8
Average 1st-half total 112.3 112.0
Possessions / 48 min 100.1 102.1
Games with 220+ pts 8/10 4/10
Games with 230+ pts 5/10 3/10
Games with 240+ pts 3/10 3/10
Scored 115+ pts 6/10 3/10

Schedule density & travel spot

Rest days, multi-game compression and current home/road stretch entering tip-off.

Cleveland Cavaliers

1 day rest
1 in 4 nights 1 in 6 nights Homestand · Game 1

Indiana Pacers

1 day rest
1 in 4 nights 1 in 6 nights Road trip · Game 1

Primary offensive threats

Available rotation leaders by scoring and shot share over the last 10 games.

Cleveland Cavaliers

  • #1 Donovan Mitchell G 18.9% pts share
    22.0 PPG · 4.5 RPG · 5.9 APG · 2.8 3PM 17.8% FGA
  • #2 James Harden G 14.8% pts share
    17.2 PPG · 4.4 RPG · 5.5 APG · 2.8 3PM 14.0% FGA
  • #3 Evan Mobley C 14.2% pts share
    16.5 PPG · 7.0 RPG · 3.7 APG · 2.0 3PM 12.4% FGA

Indiana Pacers

  • #1 Pascal Siakam F 19.7% pts share
    21.9 PPG · 7.2 RPG · 4.9 APG · 1.7 3PM 18.6% FGA
  • #2 Andrew Nembhard G-F 15.4% pts share
    17.1 PPG · 2.1 RPG · 8.0 APG · 2.9 3PM 15.1% FGA
  • #3 Aaron Nesmith G-F 10.8% pts share
    12.0 PPG · 2.0 RPG · 1.8 APG · 1.9 3PM 12.4% FGA

Last five games

Cleveland Cavaliers

  • W 115-107 at New York Knicks (A) 12 Nov
  • L 112-124 at Charlotte Hornets (A) 10 Nov
  • L 97-109 vs New York Knicks (H) 8 Nov
  • W 119-95 vs Philadelphia 76ers (H) 7 Nov
  • L 116-124 at Oklahoma City Thunder (A) 5 Nov

Indiana Pacers

  • W 114-101 vs Washington Wizards (H) 12 Nov
  • L 122-125 at Dallas Mavericks (A) 10 Nov
  • L 102-114 at Denver Nuggets (A) 7 Nov
  • W 107-103 at Memphis Grizzlies (A) 5 Nov
  • L 104-108 vs Atlanta Hawks (H) 3 Nov

Most recent first, all games of the season, overtime included.

Last 10 head-to-head meetings

CLE · 5W IND · 5W
Avg total pts: 234.7 CLE avg: 118.1 IND avg: 116.6 225+ pt games: 9/10 CLE at home: 2-4
  • 5 Apr 2026 CLE 117‑108 IND
  • 6 Jan 2026 IND 116‑120 CLE
  • 1 Dec 2025 IND 119‑135 CLE
  • 21 Nov 2025 CLE 120‑109 IND
  • 13 May 2025 CLE 105‑114 IND
  • 11 May 2025 IND 129‑109 CLE
  • 9 May 2025 IND 104‑126 CLE
  • 6 May 2025 CLE 119‑120 IND
  • 4 May 2025 CLE 112‑121 IND
  • 13 Apr 2025 CLE 118‑126 (2OT) IND

Season profile comparison

CLEIND
Record 6-6 4-8
At home 4-2 1-4
On the road 2-4 3-4
Conference 6 of 15, Eastern Conference 10 of 15, Eastern Conference
Streak – –
Days of rest 1 1
Our team rating #11 of 30 #19 of 30
Pace #15 of 30 #8 of 30

Eastern Conference standings

Full NBA standings
# Team W L PCT GB Home Road L10 Streak
1 Boston Celtics 10 2 .833 – 5-0 5-2 9-1 W5
2 Philadelphia 76ers 10 3 .769 0.5 5-2 5-1 7-3 W1
3 Detroit Pistons 8 3 .727 1.5 3-2 5-1 7-3 W2
4 Atlanta Hawks 7 5 .583 3.0 3-3 4-2 5-5 L1
5 New York Knicks 6 5 .545 3.5 4-3 2-2 6-4 L1
6 Cleveland Cavaliers 6 6 .500 4.0 4-2 2-4 5-5 W1
7 Miami Heat 5 6 .455 4.5 1-3 4-3 5-5 W2
8 Toronto Raptors 5 7 .417 5.0 2-3 3-4 3-7 L3
9 Orlando Magic 4 7 .364 5.5 0-4 4-3 4-6 W2
10 Charlotte Hornets 4 8 .333 6.0 3-4 1-4 3-7 L1
11 Indiana Pacers 4 8 .333 6.0 1-4 3-4 3-7 W1
12 Washington Wizards 4 9 .308 6.5 2-3 2-6 2-8 L6
13 Brooklyn Nets 3 8 .273 6.5 1-3 2-5 3-7 W1
14 Chicago Bulls 1 9 .100 8.0 0-4 1-5 1-9 L8
15 Milwaukee Bucks 1 11 .083 9.0 1-6 0-5 1-9 L8

Solid cut lines mark Top 6 (direct Play-offs) and Top 10 (Play-in Tournament).

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