Game Recap 10/28/23 | Cavaliers Lose to Pacers 125-113

Post-Game Recap

3 Things Around The Game

1 – Where’s the D?

Cleveland did not bring the “junkyard dog” mentality on defense, as the Pacers shot 49% for the game and made three more from deep.  Multiple wide-open looks for Tyrese Haliburton, who made the Cavs pay with multiple late deep threes.

2 – Injuries 

The Cavs, once again, are having multiple players sit out with injuries.  On Saturday night, the Cavs were without Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Jarrett Allen.  It is hard for the Cavs to win without those three on the court. 

3 – 30 plus

Big Night offensively from Caris LeVert, who had 31, and Evan Mobley, who had 33.  Max Strus also bounced back with 21 on the night. 

Game Summary

In Saturday night’s game, Aaron Nesmith achieved a career-best with 26 points, while Tyrese Haliburton put up an impressive performance, recording 21 points, 13 assists, and eight rebounds, propelling the Indiana Pacers to a 125-113 victory over the depleted Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers were missing three key starters, including the All-NBA shooting guard Donovan Mitchell, who was sidelined due to right hamstring soreness. Point guard Darius Garland was also absent due to a left hamstring strain, and center Jarrett Allen was out with a left ankle bone bruise.

Myles Turner contributed 20 points and 12 rebounds for Indiana. They dominated the second quarter, outscoring the Cavaliers 29-12, and secured their second consecutive win at the start of the season. Bennedict Mathurin and Jalen Smith chipped in with 13 points each.

Evan Mobley led the way for the Cavaliers with a remarkable performance, scoring 33 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, and registering three blocks. Caris LeVert started at the point, adding 31 points and eight assists, while Max Strus contributed 21 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.

Donovan Mitchell, who had an outstanding 43-point performance in a game against the Thunder, was visibly limping after the Cavaliers’ previous loss to Oklahoma City. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff explained that Mitchell was experiencing tightness in his hamstring, and they didn’t want to take any risks with his health.

The Cavaliers made a late charge, pulling within one point at 93-92 early in the fourth quarter thanks to a 3-pointer by Georges Niang. However, Aaron Nesmith and Buddy Hield responded with back-to-back three-pointers, and Tyrese Haliburton sealed the victory with consecutive three-pointers with three minutes left in the game.

The Pacers had an impressive start to their season, winning their first two games, including a 143-120 home victory over Washington. They currently lead the league with a scoring average of 134.0 points per game.

Cleveland took an early lead in the game, with Caris LeVert scoring 19 points in the first seven minutes, helping the Cavaliers establish a 27-12 advantage. LeVert ended the first quarter with 22 points, shooting 9-of-12 from the field, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.

In their NBA debuts, Cavaliers guards Emoni Bates and Craig Porter Jr. failed to score. Bates, the 49th draft pick, started with an air-balled 3-pointer in transition.

Up Next

Host New York on Tuesday