Cavs Pull 117-108 Win Against Pacers

“It felt good to go out there and just compete, go out there and play with the guys and especially against (my) former team,” said the 9^th-year man from Indiana. “Felt good to go out there and get the dub against those guys. To see me in that starting lineup just brought back some good memories. Just awesome to be out there contributing with my teammates. I’m glad we got the win.” 

The Cavs might have been without their starting bigs, but the regular backcourt was ready to rumble – with Donovan Mitchell and James Harden in playoff form against the team that eliminated Cleveland in the postseason last spring. 

Mitchell was aggressive from the opening tip – tallying his 33^rd game this year with at least 30 points, leading both squads with 38 points on 16-for-27 shooting, adding six boards, six assists and a steal. 

Harden followed up with 28 points and once again led the Wine and Gold with seven assists. Overall, the future Hall of Famer went 8-for-17 from the floor, including 5-of-11 from deep and 7-for-8 from the stripe, adding a game-high-tying three steals and a block. 

The Pacers, who’ve posted just 18 wins after reaching the NBA Finals one season ago, stuck with the Cavaliers for most of the night and led through the contest’s entire first half. Cleveland took its first lead of the night 75 seconds into the third quarter, but Indiana jumped back for most of the period. 

Jalen Slawson’s three-pointer gave the Pacers a two-lead lead to start the fourth, but Donovan Mitchell’s floater on Cleveland’s next possession keyed a 14-2 run that put the Wine and Gold back into the driver’s seat the rest of the way – sealing the season sweep of their longtime Division rivals. 

Keon Ellis jumped back into the starting lineup and notched double-figure scoring for the fourth time in his last six outings, chipping in with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting, adding five boards and a steal. 

Thomas Bryant wasn’t the only Cavalier to take advantage of his opportunity with both bigs on the shelf. Larry Nance Jr. got his longest run since November and finished with six points, three boards, three steals and a blocked shot in 22 outstanding minutes of work off the bench. 

Overall, the Cavs drilled 16 triples, racked up 54 points in the paint and committed just 10 turnovers. Defensively, they held Indiana to 38 percent shooting from the floor and just 17 points in the fourth quarter. 

The Pacers were led by Micah Potter, who doubled-up with 21 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Obi Toppin, the only player who actually faced Cleveland in last year’s postseason, came off to the bench to notch 21 points of his own, going 4-of-10 from the floor and 10-of-10 from the stripe in 24 minutes off the bench. 

*** After topping the Pacers on Sunday, the Cavaliers enter the final week of the regular season, traveling to Memphis on Monday night to close out the Western Conference portion of their 2025-26 slate. From there, it’s two straight against the Hawks in what could very well be a playoff preview – welcoming Quin Snyder’s red-hot squad to town on Wednesday night before a Friday night rematch in the ATL. The following Sunday, the Cavs welcome the Wizards to town for the final game of the campaign. 

*** Down their two starting big men, the Cavaliers had their hands full against Indiana. But with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen out, their third big men did some serious heavy lifting in their place. 

Thomas Bryant got his first start of the season, and he made it count, as he posted his first double-double of the year against his former team, helping the Wine & Gold pull away from the shorthanded Pacers, 117-108, in an Easter Sunday matchup at Rocket Arena. 

With now less than a week left in the regular season, the Cavaliers – who clinched a playoff spot last week in Golden State – have won eight of their last ten heading down the stretch. 

“(Bryant)’s a ball of energy, and that’s just his spirit, that’s just how he plays,” praised Coach Kenny Atkinson. “If we played a pick-up game tomorrow at the practice facility, that’s how he’d play. He’s gonna talk, and he’s gonna yell and scream. But it’s always great to have a good game against your former team.”

On the evening, Bryant finished with 14 points and a team-high 10 boards, going 6-for-9 from the floor, including 2-of-4 from long-range, adding a pair of assists and a blocked shot in the win.