Cleveland CavaliersOpen full analysis
Indiana PacersOpen full analysis
The Cleveland Cavaliers escaped Gainbridge Fieldhouse with a 120–116 victory over the Indiana Pacers on January 6, 2026, in a defensive battle that fell short of the 237.5-point Vegas total. Darius Garland led Cleveland with 29 points while Evan Mobley added 20, as the Cavaliers shot 55.7 percent from the field and dominated the glass with 48 rebounds to Indiana's 32. The Pacers countered with Pascal Siakam's 22 points and Justin Huff's 20, but Indiana's 46.2 percent shooting and 16 three-pointers proved insufficient; the home team's defensive rating of 114.4 points per 100 possessions plagued their effort. Cleveland's fourth-quarter surge—36 points in the final frame—proved decisive after the teams traded blows through three quarters. Despite committing 19 turnovers to Indiana's 11, the Cavaliers' 33 assists and superior rebounding margin sealed the road win. The loss marks a setback for Indiana's playoff positioning, while Cleveland's balanced offensive attack and ball movement suggest continued momentum in the Eastern Conference race.
