Introduction
You know that feeling when a game looks close for three quarters, and then one team just takes over? That is exactly what happened in the Cleveland Cavaliers vs Indiana Pacers matchup. The final score was 117 to 108, but the story behind those numbers is far more interesting than the scoreline suggests.
If you follow the Cleveland Cavaliers vs Pacers match player stats closely, you already know that Donovan Mitchell put on a show. But the story does not start and end with Mitchell. There were supporting performances, defensive stops, and a fourth quarter that completely flipped the game. In this article, you get a full breakdown of everything: who played well, who struggled, key team stats, quarter-by-quarter flow, and what it all means for the Cavs going forward. Let us get into it.
Game Overview: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Pacers Final Score
The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Indiana Pacers 117 to 108. It was a competitive game through the first half, with Indiana actually leading after two quarters 58 to 55. Then Cleveland outscored the Pacers 35 to 33 in the third and dominated 27 to 17 in the fourth to seal it.
Here is the quarter-by-quarter breakdown:
| Quarter | Cavaliers | Pacers |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 31 | 32 |
| Q2 | 24 | 26 |
| Q3 | 35 | 33 |
| Q4 | 27 | 17 |
| Final | 117 | 108 |
The Cavs were down but not out. When it mattered most, they flipped the switch.
Cleveland Cavaliers Player Stats: The Full Breakdown
Let us go player by player and see who made the biggest impact in this game.
Donovan Mitchell: 38 Points and Pure Domination
Donovan Mitchell was the standout performer in the Cleveland Cavaliers vs Pacers match player stats. He finished with 38 points on 59.3% shooting from the field. He went 16 for 27 overall, 2 for 7 from three, and 4 for 5 from the free throw line.
What stands out even more than the scoring total:
- 28 of his 38 points came in the paint
- He scored 11 fast break points, going 5 for 6 in transition
- 6 assists and 6 rebounds to round out a complete game
- His true shooting percentage was 65.1%
- Efficiency score of 36, the highest on the team
Mitchell was simply unguardable in the mid-to-late quarters. When the Pacers tried to cut into the lead, he answered every time. This was one of those performances you save the highlights from.
James Harden: 28 Points and the Perfect Second Option
James Harden was the perfect co-star. He dropped 28 points on 47.1% shooting, nailing 5 of 11 three-pointers. He also dished out 7 assists against just 2 turnovers, a 3.5 assist-to-turnover ratio that tells you how efficient he was running the offense.
He also had 3 steals and a plus/minus of plus 12. His true shooting percentage was 68.2%, making him one of the most efficient scorers on the floor that night.
If Mitchell drew all the attention, Harden made Indiana pay every time they shifted the defense. That combination was deadly for the Pacers.
Thomas Bryant: A Quiet Double-Double Off the Bench
Thomas Bryant did not make the headlines, but he made his presence felt. He came off the bench and finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 66.7% from the field. He even knocked down 2 of 4 three-point attempts.
His efficiency score was 24, and his offensive rating of 163.9 was the best on the team. For a bench player, that is a huge contribution. Moments like this are why Cleveland has the roster depth they do.
Keon Ellis: Energy and Efficiency
Keon Ellis gave Cleveland exactly what they needed from the wing. He scored 13 points on 55.6% shooting, hitting 3 of 7 from three. He also grabbed 5 rebounds and logged a steal.
He was a plus 8 on the night with an offensive rating of nearly 144. Ellis kept making the right play and defending his assignment. He is the kind of player who does not always get mentioned first, but his value shows up clearly in the stats.
Dennis Schroder: Steady but Quiet
Schroder finished with 6 points, 3 assists, and 2 offensive rebounds. He was not a standout statistically, but he kept things moving when he was on the floor. His assist to turnover ratio was 3.0.
Craig Porter Jr.: Defensive Presence
Porter finished with 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks. He was a plus 10 and posted an efficiency score of 9. Small contributions, but he was in the right spots defensively and did not hurt the team.
Max Strus: An Off Night
Strus struggled. He shot 1 for 10 from the field, including 1 for 9 from three. His 4 points came mostly from one made three and a free throw. He grabbed 7 rebounds and dished 5 assists, which kept him from being a complete negative, but his shooting was the weak spot in the Cavs’ lineup on this night.
His true shooting percentage was just 18.4%. Games like this happen, especially for shooters. The good news is everything else around him worked.
Indiana Pacers Player Stats: Who Showed Up for Indiana
The Pacers had their bright spots too. Let us look at who stepped up on the Indiana side of the Cleveland Cavaliers vs Pacers match player stats.
Micah Potter: 21 Points, 12 Rebounds, a Double-Double That Was Not Enough
Micah Potter had a brilliant individual game. He scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds on 60% shooting. He was 3 for 5 from three and made 6 of 8 free throws.
His efficiency score was 35, which was actually higher than most Cleveland players. With 4 assists and just 1 turnover, Potter was efficient on both ends. The problem was that Indiana could not match Mitchell and Harden’s combined 66 points.
Obi Toppin: 21 Points with a Perfect Free Throw Night
Obi Toppin added 21 points, going 10 for 10 from the free throw line. He hit 3 of 7 from three and pulled down 8 rebounds. His efficiency score was 31, and he was one of the few Pacers who consistently challenged the Cavaliers defense.
He was huge on the offensive glass, converting second chance opportunities with a 100% mark from those situations.
Jalen Slawson: Hot Shooting, but Turnover Issues
Slawson had a strong shooting night, going 7 for 11 overall and 5 for 7 from three for 19 points. His true shooting percentage was 86.4%, which is elite. However, he committed 3 turnovers, and Cleveland scored off those mistakes. When your bench scorer is that efficient, you need him to protect the ball better.
Kobe Brown: Hustle Without Enough Output
Brown scored 11 points with 7 rebounds and 5 assists, but shot just 30% from the field. He had a minus 16 plus/minus, meaning Indiana was outscored heavily when he was on the court. He grabbed 4 offensive rebounds, showing effort, but efficiency was missing.
Quenton Jackson: Solid but Not Enough
Jackson contributed 15 points on 35.7% shooting. He had 4 assists and 2 steals, but also 3 turnovers. His points were needed, but the shooting and ball security let him down at key moments.
Team Stats: Cleveland Had the Edge Where It Counted
Looking at the team totals in the Cleveland Cavaliers vs Pacers match player stats, here is where the game was decided.
Cleveland Cavaliers Team Stats:
- Field goal percentage: 46.7%
- Three-point percentage: 34.0%
- Points in the paint: 54
- Assists: 26
- Steals: 8
- Biggest lead: 15 points
- Fast break points: 11
- Offensive rating: 115.4
Indiana Pacers Team Stats:
- Field goal percentage: 38.4%
- Three-point percentage: 38.6%
- Points in the paint: 24
- Assists: 28
- Steals: 7
- Biggest lead: 12 points
- Bench points: 37
- Offensive rating: 111.6
The most glaring difference is in the paint. Cleveland scored 54 points in the paint compared to Indiana’s 24. That gap is massive. Mitchell drove repeatedly and found success every time he attacked the basket. Indiana tried to stay in it from three, making 17 attempts behind the arc, but could not sustain it across all four quarters.
Cleveland’s biggest lead was 15 points, and Indiana never seriously threatened to take the lead in the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter Collapse: What Went Wrong for the Pacers
Indiana was in this game. They led 58 to 55 at halftime. They were right there in the third quarter. But the fourth quarter is where it fell apart, and the Cleveland Cavaliers vs Pacers match player stats make it clear why.
Cleveland outscored Indiana 27 to 17 in the final period. Mitchell and Harden took turns attacking the basket and hitting clutch shots. Indiana’s field goal percentage dropped, and their turnover issues compounded. The Cavaliers went on an 11-0 run at one point in the fourth, going from a 96 to 106 lead moment where Indiana had pulled within reach, to pulling away for good.
Indiana’s bench had contributed 37 points, which is strong, but the starting group did not have a closer. When you need someone to go make plays in the final minutes, the Pacers did not have that player on the floor.
What These Stats Mean for the Cavaliers
Cleveland is a team built on two things: Mitchell’s ability to take over games and the supporting cast staying out of the way or making plays when needed. This game was a perfect example of that formula working.
The cleveland cavaliers vs pacers match player stats show a team that:
- Can dominate in the paint when Mitchell is attacking
- Has multiple secondary scorers in Harden and Bryant
- Protects the ball reasonably well as a team (10 total turnovers)
- Has the depth to absorb a rough shooting night from Strus
One thing to monitor going forward is three-point shooting. Cleveland went 16 for 47 from three, which is a 34% clip. On some nights that will hurt them. Strus is supposed to be one of their best shooters, and when he goes 1 for 9, the team needs someone else to step up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of the Cavaliers vs Pacers game? Cleveland Cavaliers won 117 to 108 over the Indiana Pacers. The Cavs trailed at halftime but dominated the fourth quarter 27 to 17 to secure the win.
Who was the top scorer in the Cavaliers vs Pacers game? Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 38 points on 59.3% shooting. He also added 6 assists and 6 rebounds.
How did James Harden perform against the Pacers? Harden was excellent. He scored 28 points on 47.1% shooting, hit 5 threes, and distributed 7 assists with just 2 turnovers.
Did any Pacers player have a standout game in the cleveland cavaliers vs pacers match player stats? Micah Potter had a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Obi Toppin also scored 21 points and went a perfect 10 for 10 from the free throw line.
What was Donovan Mitchell’s points in the paint total? Mitchell scored 28 of his 38 points in the paint, going 14 for 18 on attempts in that area. He was nearly unstoppable attacking the rim.
How did Cleveland’s bench perform? The Cavaliers bench scored 20 points, led by Thomas Bryant’s 14 points and 10 rebounds off the pine. Indiana’s bench actually outscored Cleveland’s 37 to 20, but the Cavs’ starters made the difference.
What was Cleveland’s biggest lead in the game? Cleveland’s biggest lead was 15 points. The game was close early but the Cavs pushed it open in the fourth quarter.
How did Keon Ellis contribute to the Cavaliers win? Ellis scored 13 points on 55.6% shooting with 3 threes and 5 rebounds. He was a plus 8 on the night and provided strong energy off the wing.
Why did Indiana lose despite a strong team effort? Indiana was outplayed in the paint 54 to 24. They also had too many turnovers at key moments, and their offense stalled in the fourth quarter when Cleveland went on their decisive run.
Where can I find the full cleveland cavaliers vs pacers match player stats? The full box score, including individual player stat lines and team totals, is covered in detail right here. You can also find official stats on the NBA’s website.
Final Thoughts
The Cleveland Cavaliers vs Pacers match player stats tell a story of two teams fighting hard for three quarters, and then one superstar closing the door. Mitchell’s 38 points were the difference, but this was a collective effort. Harden ran the offense with precision, Bryant gave them a lift off the bench, and Ellis provided the energy they needed on the wing.
Indiana showed fight and had individual performances worth celebrating, especially from Potter and Toppin. But they could not match Cleveland’s closing ability when it mattered most.
What did you think of Mitchell’s performance? Drop a comment, share this with a fellow Cavs fan, or check out more game coverage to stay on top of every player stat that shapes the season.
About the Author
John Harwen is a veteran sports journalist and NBA analyst with over a decade of experience covering professional basketball. He specializes in game breakdowns, player performance analysis, and statistical deep-dives that go beyond the box score. John has contributed to multiple sports media outlets and is known for his ability to make complex stats accessible and engaging for everyday fans. When he is not breaking down game film or crunching numbers, you will find him courtside or writing about the moments that define seasons.
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Email: johanharwen314@gmail.com
Author Name: Johan Harwen
