Next on the docket for the Cleveland Cavaliers is their last meeting with the Indiana Pacers this regular season, who are a club that’s amid a transition, as they traded Domantas Sabonis to the Sacramento Kings near last month’s deadline. That was most notably in return for Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield, with the former looking to be a core piece for Indiana moving forward, at minimum.
In relation to both teams, they’ve dealt with key injuries throughout the season, as Darius Garland has been dealing with lingering back soreness for nearly the last two months, and that’s something he and the team will have to manage the rest of the way. More recently, Cleveland has not had Caris LeVert, their trade acquisition from Indiana, in post-All-Star break yet, because of of a foot sprain and Rajon Rondo has missed the past five contests, due to a big toe sprain.
Those two players seem close to returning, which is a positive, but the Cavaliers will likely be without Jarrett Allen for an extended period, as he suffered a quad contusion and also a fractured finger in Cleveland’s win against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. That was crushing for this Cavs team looking to get back on track.
From Indiana’s perspective, they have been without T.J. Warren (foot) and T.J. McConnell (wrist surgery) for the entirety of this season, and Malcolm Brogdon had missed much of the year with Achilles soreness. He has been back since, though.
Myles Turner, meanwhile, is still out because of a foot injury.
The point is, both of these teams have had significant injuries throughout the season. The Cavs are still looking to secure a postseason berth the rest of the way, but the latest Allen news hurts. They’ll try to move past this last one, though, and pick up another win against Indy this season.
So what do you need to know about this fourth and final matchup between the Cavs and Pacers, and how to bet?
The Cavaliers check into this contest at sixth in the Eastern Conference and did beat Toronto on Sunday, however, they’ve been reeling, and have lost six of their last eight games. Cleveland needs to get off to a solid start here to put themselves in nice position as the game progresses; we’ll have to see how they respond to Allen’s injury, though.
In the Pacers’ case, they’re not a club that’s likely to make the play-in tourney in the East, and appear to be shifting toward a full-rebuild. Even still, Indy has had Brodgon back of late, and their guards could be a problem here, particularly without Allen at the backline here as a deterrent and shot alterer.
Evan Mobley should still be, it’s not going to be such a difference without Allen’s presence for a while on both ends. The Cavs need to be on-point here as rotators, either way, and they’ll look to build on that last Raptors game.
Cavaliers-Pacers: Betting info for Tuesday
According to our partners at WynnBet, the Cavaliers are favored here by 3.5 points over the Pacers. The over/under for both squads here is currently at 223.0 points.
For both teams individually, the over/under is set for 113.0 for the Cavs, and that’s set for 110.0 for the Pacers.
Cavaliers-Pacers: Projected starters and injury report
Pacers starters: Tyrese Haliburton, Malcolm Brogdon, Buddy Hield, Oshae Brissett, Isaiah Jackson/Goga Bitadze
Cavs starters: Darius Garland, Isaac Okoro, Lauri Markkanen, Evan Mobley, Ed Davis
Pacers injuries: T.J. Warren (out, foot) and Myles Turner (out, foot); T.J. McConnell (out, wrist); Ricky Rubio (out for season, knee); Chris Duarte (questionable, toe); Lance Stephenson (questionable, ankle); Goga Bitadze (questionable, foot).
Cavs injuries: Jarrett Allen (out, quad, finger); Caris LeVert (out, foot); Dylan Windler (out, On G League assignment); Collin Sexton (likely out for season, knee); Rajon Rondo (questionable, toe).
Cavs-Pacers: Prediction
For the Cavaliers, with Allen sidelined, I’d expect Mobley to be starting regularly at the 5. Now, could the Cavs look to sign a fill-in 5 with Allen out? One could foresee that, sure, but currently, Mobley should slot in in at the spot, and others will likely get minutes there for stretches.
It again hurts for the Cavaliers to not have Allen’s interior presence at both ends, as he’s had a breakout season this year, and had been playing so well before getting injured. With that in mind, even with Indy’s injuries, both teams will take some time to feel it out defensively.
Cleveland potentially getting Rondo back in the fold could help from an organizational standpoint, and for Garland to have a bit more of a breather here, coupled with that, on both ends. It’s uncertain if he’ll end up being a go; that would again make a difference, though, I believe, and this is the kind of contest where it’d be nice for him to get some of his footing back after missing a stretch of games.
Regardless, I’d probably expect the Cavs, perhaps to stay out of foul trouble, to mix in some zone here, but if that plays out, they’ll need to prevent looks from the corners, which at times has been an issue in those situations. That could create some turnovers for the Wine and Gold to generate run-outs in those one, and maybe in other games to come soon, though; so I’ll be looking out for that here.
Generally, with Indy wanting to get out and run here, and perhaps teams to come overall, the Cavaliers’ transition defense is going to have to improve, as that’s been an issue post-All-Star, whether or not Allen has been out there.
Part of that has been live-ball turnovers, but either way, Cleveland needs to get back more effectively, to help them not have to rely on comeback efforts.
Anyway, in this one, while it won’t be easy, as they won’t be from here on out, especially sans Allen, I do think the Cavs do get another W, and get some timely stops and a few runs throughout to get the job done. And they cover by a bit; I’m going with the under slightly, though, for what it’s worth, as Allen’s production is not simple to replace.
Prediction: Cavs 112, Pacers 107
The Bet: Cavs (-3.5), OVER
Cavaliers-Pacers: Where to watch
This last meeting between the Cavaliers and Pacers this season can be watched on Bally Sports Ohio, Bally Sports Indiana and Bally Sports Midwest, for fans in-market and subscribed to those.
For fans out of market or without those options in-market, if subscribed, NBA League Pass should have this one.
Cavs upcoming schedule:
After this Pacers contest, the Cavs will then have a very difficult road back-to-back against the Miami Heat on Friday and Chicago Bulls on Saturday. Those teams are currently the first and fourth seed in a jam-packed Eastern Conference.
Cleveland will have its hands full with both of those clubs in what will be the third meeting with the Heat, who were not healthy in the first two meetings, likely leading to wins, and Chicago handled the Cavs in extended stretches in their last meeting. DeMar DeRozan is a potential MVP darkhorse this season, and will yet again be such a difficult guard.
From there, the Cavs will take on the LA Clippers on Monday in what is the first of a crucial five-game homestand for the Wine and Gold as we move deeper into March in what’s going to be a fight from here for playoff positioning in the East. We’ll have to see how the Cavs respond, and if they can secure a postseason berth going forward.