Game Recap 11/3/23 | Cavaliers Lose to Pacers 121-116

Post-Game Recap

3 Key Factors Around the Game

1 – Comeback falls short

The Cavs were on their way to getting blown out, down by 17 at the half and looking lost trying to guard the hot-shooting Pacers. 

And then they made a remarkable comeback to take the lead in the 2nd half but fell short late, losing by five.  

Caris LeVert had a chance to tie the game with under ten seconds left but missed a three-pointer, with the Pacers getting the rebound that sealed the game. 

2 – Welcome back!

Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen were back on the court and started for Cleveland.  Garland had 14 points with six assists, and Allen finished with 10 points and seven boards.

3 – Three-point shooting

The difference in the game was three-point shooting.  The Cavs only shot 28.8%, making only eight three-pointers, and the Pacers shot 48.4%, draining 15 on the night. 

Game Summary

In the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament on Friday night, Myles Turner contributed 27 points, while Tyrese Haliburton notched 18 points and 13 assists, helping the Indiana Pacers secure a 121-116 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Donovan Mitchell led the charge for the Cavaliers with an impressive 38 points, nine assists, and five rebounds. Despite falling behind by 18 points, Cleveland managed to surge ahead by four in the fourth quarter.

Both teams displayed strong shooting performances, with a 52% field goal accuracy, but Indiana outperformed the Cavaliers from beyond the arc, making 15 of their 31 three-point attempts compared to Cleveland’s 8 of 28. Caris LeVert, a former Pacer, missed a critical three-point shot from the left wing that could have tied the game with just 10 seconds remaining.

Mitchell made two free throws, closing the gap to 119-116 with 2.6 seconds left, but Haliburton sealed the victory with a pair of his own. This win snapped Indiana’s two-game losing streak that followed their 2-0 start to the season.

Bruce Brown contributed 19 points and seven rebounds for Indiana, while Evan Mobley put up 14 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and four blocks for the Cavaliers.

The Pacers dominated from beyond the arc in the first half, sinking nine three-pointers, including four from Turner, building a commanding 70-53 lead.

Up Next

Host Golden State Warriors on Sunday at 6 PM