Welcome to the Cavaliers Coaster -- price of admission: pain and joy. Up and down, we go, as the Cavs have alternated win and losses consistently for the last month. They have not won or lost more than two in a row over the last 17 games. After a disappointing loss in Houston, the Cavs rollercoaster works it way back up with a win in Indianapolis.
The Cavs were 0-2 coming into the night allowing 120+ points in both previous outings against the Pacers. Tonight, the Cavs won and allowed just 103 points. The Pacers only scored less three times in 2024.
At the start, it didn’t look like it was going that way. The Pacers scored 34 points in the first quarter and shot 60.9% FG. In the following three quarters the Pacers scored 69 points and shot 41.1% FG the rest of the way.
The Cavs started quick with a 7-2 run. However, that quickly subsided, and the Pacers went on their way. They went on a 9-0 run, in part to two quick Cavs turnovers, which quickly evolved into 19-3 for the Pacers.
The Pacers were able to do that a few different ways. For one, they were 7-9 from the paint area. They were getting pretty much any and everything they wanted around the rim. However, they would only get 11 more paint field goals the rest of the game (3.66 per quarter), nearly half their first quarter total.
They were also able to hit corner threes. They were 3-4 in the first quarter but proceeded to only go 2-13 the rest of the way.
The Pacers also owned the glass in the first quarter. They had a 12-7 rebounding edge, and a 3-0 offensive rebound edge. This allowed them to push the pace and 8 of their points came from a combined second chance and fast break point opportunities.
Take out that first quarter advantage, and the Cavs were about even rebounding wise (32 to 33 total rebounds; and 9 to 11 offensive rebounds). The Pacers only had 12 fast break points the rest of the way, however they did have 11 more second chance points.
The Pacers came into the night with the NBA’s best scoring bench – they score 46.7 points per game. They scored 40 on the night, six below their average, but just 23 points after the first quarter.
The Cavs were outscored in bench points 40-27 but the Cavs bench was a +5 on the night.
Speaking of which was in large part to newly signed Marcus Morris Sr who was the first Cavalier off the bench. Morris had 14 big points (4-5 from 3P) and was a +9. Not bad for a guy straight off the couch.
Perhaps more anecdotal then evidential but the noticeable difference between Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell led teams is on court control displayed especially when things are not going as well. In 10 first quarter minutes, Garland was a -9, led the Cavs to only 18 points scored, a 90 ORTG and was on the court when the Cavs had as many turnovers (4) as assists. There was a four-minute stretch where the Cavs didn’t have a basket, and they only scored 11 points over an eight-minute span after seven points in the first couple of minutes. Those type of stretches didn’t seem to happen as consistently with Mitchell.
But credit to Garland for bouncing back. In the following two quarters: 2Q: 7 minutes, 20pts, +13, 142 ORTG, 3:1 AST-TO ratio. 3Q: 12 minutes, 36pts, +7, 150 ORTG, 9:2 AST-TO ratio. If the Cavs are going to sustain key injuries, Garland is going to have to play like this more consistently.
The Cavs were pushing a bit to start the second quarter but after getting within five points, the Pacers went on 10-0 run. This was their scoring: 13’ pullup, layup, layup, layup, layup. They had four offensive rebounds in that stretch. Paint points and rebounds were the Cavs harm, does that sound familiar?
The odd thing is the Pacers were doing all of this with Tyrese Haliburton on the bench in foul trouble. In seven minutes without him, the Pacers were a +5.
And just as one would expect (tongue in cheek), the Cavs immediately went on a 9-0 run when Haliburton returned.
From the time the Pacers ended their run in the second quarter, they didn’t score a basket for over five minutes – the basket came at just under two minutes. The Cavs defense turned up and turned out.
Without a doubt, the Cavs don’t win this game without Caris LeVert. The Cavs players, Georges Niang, Tristan Thompson, and Donovan Mitchell, were quick to pump up the LeVert for Sixth Man of the Year award. He scored 13 straight points in the second quarter. After being down seven points to start his run, the Cavs tied the Pacers up at half.
The Pacers were only 1-10 from 3P in the second quarter after going 3-8 in the first.
The Garland-LeVert-Morris-Niang-Thompson went on 11-3 run in three second quarter minutes. It would be the team’s best lineup for the night.
The Cavs came out hot to start the half once again with six straight made shots. Their next two misses were offensive rebounds that led to four more points. This would put the Cavs up by nine.
The only difference from the first quarter is while the Pacers tried to go on some runs, the Cavs resisted. They were able to hold off the Pacers and took a seven-point lead into the fourth quarter.
Garland got going in the third and probably had his best quarter: 10pts, 4reb, 6ast and he played all third quarter minutes.
It also may have been Morris’ best quarter. He was 3-3 with 8 points, and some timely made shots.
Garland’s 12 third quarter minutes point to the lack of trust JB Bickerstaff has in CRAIG! Porter Jr right now. CPJ got just under seven first half minutes and was a -4. He did have two assists to zero turnovers, but the Cavs lost ground with him on the floor. When Garland needed a break, JBB elected to go with Isaac Okoro, Sam Merrill, and LeVert to start the fourth quarter.
All the things the Pacers did well in the first quarter (rebound, offensive rebound, hit threes and bring fire power off the bench), the Cavs did well in the third. They hit five threes, were a +5 rebounding and a +2 in offensive rebounding and were a +4 in bench points.
Then the fourth quarter came which has been an adventure for the Cavs without Mitchell. The Cavs only managed 18 points but held the Pacers to 20. The Cavs were a porous 36.8% from the field, and 1-8 from three-point range.
LeVert was the only Cavalier with a positive plus-minus (+1) in the fourth quarter. Allen and Morris were a neutral while the rest of the Cavs were a negative. Garland was a -1 with an 81.8 offensive rating. He had two turnovers, zero assists and only one point.
The Cavs looked to be pulling away to start the fourth with nine quick points in the quarter’s first three minutes. But then the slump hit. They didn’t score a point in over four minutes. Luckily, the Pacers were only able to must six points in that span.
LeVert clutch down the stretch. When the Cavs needed offense, LeVert delivered with two buckets and an assist in under five-minute possessions.
And in a final possession where the Cavs really needed a basket, Allen off a pick-and-roll was able to find a cutting Okoro for a layup to ice the game away. Allen had 23 points, 9 rebounds and his only assist on the night on that layup.
LeVert was only two rebounds away from a triple double. It’s his second points-assist double-double in the last four games.
Allen and LeVert led the way for the Cavs with 23 points, but six Cavaliers were in double digits.
Niang, valued starter? In seven starts this year, he’s shooting 50.8 FG%, 44.7 3P%, and is averaging 13.1pts, 5.1 reb, 2.3 ast in 28 minutes. Those numbers per 48 minutes outpace his current numbers as a reserve. The Cavs are 3-4 in the last six games Niang has started. In every win, Niang has a positive plus-minus (+42). In every loss, Niang has a negative plus-minus (-51).
Aside from giving Mitchell a nasal fracture, it’s good to have Thompson back. In two games he has five offensive rebounds. Allen has six offensive rebounds the last four games. Thompson just gives them a different dynamic and brings a different energy especially on the offensive glass.
The Pacers led for 18+ minutes in the first half. The Cavs led for 22+ minutes in the second half.
Up next: The Cavs head home to take on the Heat on Wednesday at 7PM (ET).
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