CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs head back to Indiana on Tuesday to face a depleted Pacers team. Tipoff at 7 p.m. Eastern.
For Thomas Bryant, it’s a homecoming of sorts — the last regular-season visit to Gainbridge Fieldhouse this year, and the one where he’ll face the team that gave him his first true taste of playoff basketball.
The Pacers are a shadow of the squad Bryant left behind. At 6-30, they’re near the bottom of the league, and a miraculous turnaround into a play-in spot feels all but impossible. Yet, Cleveland can’t afford to look past them.
Even a depleted Indiana roster has enough tools to exploit the Cavs if they slip. Chief among them: pace and physicality.
Indiana ranks 11th in the NBA in pace, with Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith leading a backcourt that can push the tempo and challenge Cleveland’s ball handlers. The blueprint has been heard around the league — get the Cavs scrambling in transition and force mistakes.
For the Cavs, the absence of Donovan Mitchell (rest) will test that blueprint. Even without their superstar, the Cavs’ depth, veteran savvy and the presence of Bryant — who knows Indiana’s tendencies inside and out — should be enough to handle this version of the Pacers.
Tuesday is a chance for the Cavs to stack wins, continue building consistency and for them to prove that no matter the opponent or the circumstances, they’re locked in on the task at hand.
How to watch the Cavs: See how to watch the Cavs games with this handy game-by-game TV schedule.
Here’s what to know about the matchup:
Who: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers
Series: Third of four matchups in the regular season.
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
When: 7 p.m. ET.
The point spread: Cavs minus-4.5; O/U 232.5
TV: FanDuel Sports Network – Ohio & Rock Sports
Injury report
Cavs
Questionable:
- Jarrett Allen (illness)
- Dean Wade (left knee; contusion)
Out:
- Chris Livingston (G League – Two-Way)
- Donovan Mitchell (rest)
- Larry Nance Jr. (right calf; strain)
- Max Strus (left foot; Jones fracture surgery)
- Luke Travers (G League – Two-Way)
Pacers
Out:
- Tyrese Haliburton (right Achilles tendon; tear)
- Isaiah Jackson (concussion)
- Bennedict Mathurin (right thumb; sprain)
- Obi Toppin (right foot; stress fracture)
