Cavaliers Beat the Pacers 129-120: Game Recap 4/12/24

Post-Game Recap

3 Notes Around the Loss

1 – BACK TO THE PLAYOFFS!

With the Cavaliers’ win tonight over the Pacers, 129-120, the Cleveland Cavaliers are back in the playoffs!  The win guarantees them the 4th seed at the worst.

2 – Garland!

Darius Garland hit the big shot of the night, making a three-pointer with 50 seconds left to put the Cavs up comfortably by five. Garland got the shot because of a great hustle rebound by Max Strus.

3 – Marvelous Mitchell!

Once again, Donovan Mitchell scored a team-high 33 points, and Jarrett Allen also had a big night, scoring 29 points and 13 rebounds.

Game Recap

Donovan Mitchell led the charge with 33 points, supported by Jarrett Allen’s impressive 29 points and 13 rebounds as the Cleveland Cavaliers secured their spot in the playoffs with a thrilling 129-120 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

Despite a late surge from Indiana, narrowing the gap to 120-118 with just over two minutes remaining on Pascal Siakam’s drive, Darius Garland responded emphatically with a crucial 3-pointer over Siakam. The Cavaliers sealed the deal with six consecutive points, including an Isaac Okoro three-point play that concluded with an exuberant somersault.

Tyrese Haliburton showcased his skills with 19 points and 12 assists for the Pacers, while Siakam and Myles Turner contributed 19 and 17 points respectively. Indiana, still in contention for a playoff berth, must secure a win or rely on a Philadelphia loss on Sunday. Despite their best efforts, Indiana’s three-game winning streak came to an end.

Garland and Caris LeVert chipped in with 16 points each for the Cavaliers, supported by Max Strus’ seven points and nine assists. Allen’s remarkable 13-of-14 shooting performance propelled Cleveland to its first consecutive playoff appearances since their NBA Finals streak from 2015 to 2018.

Heading into the game, Cleveland’s seeding in the Eastern Conference ranged from second to seventh, while Indiana’s potential placement varied from third to eighth. With the top six teams advancing directly to the playoffs and the seventh and eighth teams participating in the play-in tournament, the stakes were high.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle acknowledged the league’s evolving competitiveness, stating, “It’s a level of parity there has never been in my 40 years in this league. The league has evolved into a true, hard-play league every night.”

In the third quarter, Aaron Nesmith tallied nine points and Haliburton added eight, bringing Indiana within striking distance at 97-94 entering the final period. However, Pacers forward Obi Toppin’s left ankle sprain halted his contribution for the remainder of the game.

Cleveland established a commanding 14-point lead in the second quarter, heading into halftime with a 70-59 advantage. Mitchell led the charge with 18 points in just 18 minutes, while Allen contributed 16 points and nine rebounds to the Cavaliers’ impressive first-half performance.

Up Next

Host Charlotte on Sunday.