Pacers vs Cleveland Cavaliers match player stats reveal a rivalry that has defined the Eastern Conference Central Division across two straight seasons. In 2025-26, the Cavaliers have dominated the series, handing a struggling Indiana squad a decisive regular-season loss in November.
But this matchup carries far more weight than one game — just six months earlier, the Pacers stunned the No. 1 seed Cavaliers in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, winning 4-1 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers have met once so far in the 2025-26 NBA regular season. Their second matchup is scheduled for April 5, 2026 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
| Game | Date | Venue | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 (NBA Cup) | November 21, 2025 | Rocket Arena, Cleveland | Cleveland Cavaliers | 120–109 |
| Game 2 (Regular Season) | April 5, 2026 | Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse | TBD | Scheduled |
The Cavaliers controlled the November meeting from start to finish. Indiana entered the game with a 2-13 record, severely short-handed with Tyrese Haliburton, Aaron Nesmith, Obi Toppin, and others all inactive. Cleveland was 11-6 at the time and running one of the best offenses in the East.
Understanding where both teams stand heading into their April rematch is critical. The gap between them this season is striking.
| Team | Wins | Losses | Win % | Conference Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 40 | 26 | .606 | 2nd in East (Central) |
| Indiana Pacers | 15 | 50 | .231 | 5th in Central (bottom) |
The Cavaliers are comfortably in playoff position, sitting second in their division. Indiana is having one of its worst seasons in recent memory, with a 15-50 record that puts them near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. The April 5 matchup will likely be a mismatch on paper, though the playoff history between these teams means no one is taking anything for granted.
The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Indiana Pacers 120–109 at Rocket Arena on November 21, 2025 in an NBA Cup game. The Cavaliers were strong favorites and delivered, controlling the majority of the contest and building their lead steadily across four quarters.
Indiana’s 2-14 record at the time reflected the extent of their early-season struggles. Six key rotation players were inactive for the Pacers, including their franchise player Tyrese Haliburton. Cleveland showed why they were one of the top teams in the East, with Donovan Mitchell playing at an elite level and the supporting cast contributing across the board.
The game was played at full attendance — 19,432 fans filled Rocket Arena — and lasted 2 hours and 28 minutes from tip to final buzzer.
| Quarter | Cavaliers (CLE) | Pacers (IND) |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | — | — |
| Q2 | — | — |
| Q3 | — | — |
| Q4 | — | — |
| Final | 120 | 109 |
Cleveland held the lead throughout most of the game, never allowing Indiana to mount a serious comeback without their star players. The 11-point margin reflects a comfortable win, not a blowout — the Pacers’ bench contributors kept the game competitive until the final stretch.
This game featured significant absences on both sides that shaped the outcome.
Indiana Pacers — Inactive: Tyrese Haliburton, Johnny Furphy, Quenton Jackson, Kam Jones, Aaron Nesmith, Obi Toppin
Cleveland Cavaliers — Inactive: Jarrett Allen, Chris Livingston, Sam Merrill, Max Strus, Luke Travers
Indiana’s absences were far more damaging. Haliburton — the team’s floor general, playmaker, and leading scorer — being out removed the Pacers’ ability to run their offense at even 70% capacity. Cleveland missing Allen and Strus had much less impact given their depth.
| Stat | Cavaliers (CLE) | Pacers (IND) |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 120 | 109 |
| Starting Record (After Game) | 11-6 | 2-14 |
| Conference Position | 4th in East | 14th in East |
| Key Inactive | Allen, Merrill, Strus | Haliburton, Nesmith, Toppin |
Cleveland’s bench was a major factor. Without Strus, other role players stepped up seamlessly — a hallmark of the Cavaliers’ deep roster construction under head coach Kenny Atkinson.
Donovan Mitchell — Leading Scorer Mitchell was the game’s dominant offensive force. He scored at his usual high level, combining mid-range efficiency, free-throw drawing ability, and late-game shot creation. Mitchell had entered 2025-26 coming off an extraordinary playoff run against these same Pacers and carried that confidence into the regular season.
Mitchell is averaging over 27 points per game in 2025-26. Against Indiana, he showed why — his ability to score in isolation, hit pull-up jumpers, and attack downhill makes him the hardest player to guard in the Central Division.
De’Andre Hunter — Efficient Wing Scoring Hunter came off the bench in November after transitioning to Cleveland from Atlanta. He provided immediate scoring punch with efficient shooting, reinforcing the Cavaliers’ depth advantage throughout the contest.
Thomas Bryant — Interior Anchor With Jarrett Allen inactive, Bryant started at center and gave Cleveland reliable production in the paint. His scoring around the rim and rebounding presence made it difficult for Indiana’s depleted frontcourt to establish any interior game.
Craig Porter Jr. — Playmaking Off the Bench Porter Jr. provided strong bench playmaking, distributing to open teammates and making good decisions against Indiana’s thin defense. His efficient performance highlighted how deep Cleveland’s roster is when healthy.
Tyrese Proctor — Three-Point Shooting Proctor shot efficiently from behind the arc in limited minutes, contributing to Cleveland’s ball movement offense. His ability to space the floor gave Mitchell and others more driving lanes throughout the game.
Bennedict Mathurin — Top Scorer for IND With Haliburton and Nesmith inactive, Mathurin was asked to do more than usual. He responded — he entered the game averaging 27.8 points per game for the young season and was Indiana’s primary scoring option. Mathurin’s aggressive style and ability to draw fouls were the Pacers’ best offensive weapons on the night.
Pascal Siakam — Veteran Leadership Siakam continued his reliable production as the Pacers’ most experienced contributor. He had recorded 22 points, four rebounds, and seven assists in Indiana’s previous game against Charlotte and was one of the few Pacers capable of matching Cleveland’s level. His veteran presence kept Indiana from completely falling apart offensively.
Andrew Nembhard — Point Guard Duties With Haliburton out, Nembhard ran the Pacers’ offense as the primary ball handler. He is a smart, controlled guard who made good decisions, but the absence of Haliburton’s elite playmaking and scoring left an enormous void that no single player could fill.
Ben Sheppard — Role Player Contribution Sheppard contributed off the bench and represented the younger depth that Indiana has been developing. With the Pacers struggling all season, his development alongside Mathurin has been one of the few bright spots.
Isaiah Jackson — Center Jackson started at center for Indiana and worked in the paint against Thomas Bryant. His athleticism gave the Pacers some rim protection and interior scoring attempts, but the matchup was challenging against Cleveland’s depth.
No discussion of Pacers vs Cleveland Cavaliers match player stats is complete without covering the defining chapter of this rivalry — the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals, where Indiana pulled off one of the most stunning upsets in recent playoff history.
The No. 1 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers (64-18) entered the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals as heavy favorites against the Indiana Pacers. Cleveland had won 15 straight games to open the 2024-25 season and finished with the best record in the East. Indiana finished as the No. 4 seed.
The Pacers won the series 4-1, eliminating the top seed and advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive season.
| Game | Date | Location | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | May 4, 2025 | Cleveland (CLE home) | Indiana Pacers | 121–112 |
| Game 2 | May 6, 2025 | Cleveland (CLE home) | Indiana Pacers | 120–119 |
| Game 3 | May 9, 2025 | Indianapolis (IND home) | Cleveland Cavaliers | 126–104 |
| Game 4 | May 11, 2025 | Indianapolis (IND home) | Indiana Pacers | 129–109 |
| Game 5 | May 13, 2025 | Cleveland (CLE home) | Indiana Pacers | 114–105 |
Indiana won three games in Cleveland — an extraordinary achievement against the No. 1 seed. The Pacers won Games 1 and 2 on the road, then clinched in Game 5 back in Cleveland.
Tyrese Haliburton (IND) — Series MVP Performance
Haliburton was the defining player of the series. In the series-clinching Game 5, he dropped 31 points on 10-of-15 shooting with 6 three-pointers, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds. His series average exceeded 25 points per game.
In Game 1, Haliburton scored 22 points with 13 assists and hit key defensive plays including a steal and three blocks — becoming the first Pacers player in franchise history to post those numbers in a playoff game. In Game 2, he hit a stunning stepback three-pointer after rebounding his own missed free throw in the final seconds to steal a one-possession victory.
Donovan Mitchell (CLE) — Dominant But Ultimately Insufficient
Mitchell averaged over 41 points per game through the first three games of the series — one of the highest averages in playoff history through three games. He was devastating but could not carry Cleveland to victories when his teammates were unavailable or limited.
In Game 5, Mitchell scored a game-high 35 points but shot 8-for-25 from the field, fighting through a left ankle injury he suffered in Game 3. He missed the entire second half of Game 3 after the ankle gave out, which dramatically changed the series.
Pascal Siakam (IND) — Consistent Closer
Siakam led all scorers in Game 4 with 21 points as Indiana built a 41-point halftime lead — tying an NBA playoff record. He averaged over 18 points and 8 rebounds across the series, providing the frontcourt scoring that complemented Haliburton’s playmaking.
Myles Turner (IND) — Rim Protector and Three-Point Threat
Turner scored 20 points in Game 4 and was crucial both as a rim protector and a three-point shooter. His unique ability to score from the arc while protecting the paint created matchup problems that Cleveland’s centers could not solve.
Evan Mobley (CLE) — Hampered by Injury
Mobley missed Game 2 with health issues and was inconsistent throughout the series. In Game 5 he posted 24 points and 11 rebounds — his best game — but it came too late. His limited availability magnified the Cavaliers’ defensive vulnerabilities.
Darius Garland (CLE) — Hampered Throughout
Garland played the entire postseason with a sprained big toe. He missed Game 2 alongside Mobley and De’Andre Hunter. When he returned, he was visibly limited, unable to generate his normal offensive burst. His absence and diminished play were second only to Mitchell’s ankle injury in determining the series outcome.
Andrew Nembhard (IND) — Clutch Performer
Nembhard scored 23 points in Game 1, going 5-for-6 from three-point range. His steady shooting and defensive energy gave the Pacers balance behind Haliburton and Siakam. In Game 5, his and-one conversion helped seal the victory in the final minute.
Obi Toppin (IND) — Energy Off the Bench
Toppin added 20 points in Game 4 as Indiana’s bench overwhelmed Cleveland in the second quarter. His athleticism and scoring ability made him impossible to guard off the bench and contributed to the record-tying 41-point halftime lead.
| Category | Pacers Total | Cavaliers Total |
|---|---|---|
| Series Result | Won 4-1 | Lost 4-1 |
| Average Points Per Game | ~117 | ~110 |
| Haliburton (Series Avg) | 25+ pts, 9 ast | N/A |
| Mitchell (Series Avg) | N/A | 36+ pts (Gms 1-3) |
| Key Injuries | None major | Mitchell ankle, Garland toe, Mobley |
| Three-Point Makes (Game 1) | 16 | Fewer |
| Largest Halftime Lead (Game 4) | +41 | Trailing |
Indiana leads the all-time regular-season series between these two franchises. When they met in November 2025, it was their 216th regular-season matchup.
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| All-Time Series Leader | Indiana Pacers (111-104 entering 2025-26) |
| 2025 Playoff Series | Indiana Pacers won 4-1 |
| 2025-26 Regular Season | Cleveland leads 1-0 |
| Last 10 Regular-Season Meetings (entering 2025-26) | Pacers led 7-3 |
| Haliburton vs Mitchell (Last 5 playoff games) | Haliburton 4-1 team record |
The Pacers’ long-term edge in the series is a reminder that Cleveland’s 2025-26 dominance does not define the whole story. Indiana was a genuinely elite team in 2024-25 and the 2025 playoff upset is one of the biggest stories in recent NBA history.
Mitchell is unstoppable — but not invincible. Donovan Mitchell is one of the two or three hardest scorers to contain in basketball. But when his supporting cast is limited or injured, even his individual brilliance is not enough to beat a deep, disciplined Pacers team at its best.
Haliburton is the difference-maker. Every game Indiana has won in this series has featured Tyrese Haliburton at or near his ceiling. Every game they have lost — including the November 2025 regular-season game — he was absent or limited. His health is the single biggest variable in the Pacers vs Cavaliers rivalry.
Indiana’s depth is real when healthy. The 2025 playoff run proved that Siakam, Nembhard, Turner, Toppin, and Nesmith together form one of the deepest supporting casts in the East. The 2025-26 season’s struggles are injury and early-season adjustment driven, not a permanent reset.
Cleveland’s frontcourt health decides everything. The Cavaliers are elite when Mobley and Allen are both on the floor. When either is limited, their interior defense and rebounding drop sharply, making them vulnerable to disciplined offenses like Indiana’s.
| Category | Tyrese Haliburton (IND) | Donovan Mitchell (CLE) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 PPG | Injured/limited early | ~27+ PPG |
| Playoff PPG vs Each Other (2025) | ~25+ | ~36+ (Gms 1-3) |
| Assists | Elite (9+ per game in playoff) | Secondary playmaker |
| Three-Point Shooting | High volume, efficient | Above average |
| Injury Status (Nov 2025) | Inactive | Active |
| Clutch Moments | Game 2 buzzer stepback 3 | 35 pts in Game 5 (loss) |
| Team Record vs Opponent (2025 Playoffs) | 4-1 | 1-4 |
Haliburton and Mitchell represent contrasting styles — the distributing maestro versus the scoring assassin. In their head-to-head 2025 playoff matchup, the maestro prevailed.
The second meeting of the 2025-26 season takes place April 5, 2026 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. Several factors will shape the outcome.
Haliburton’s availability is the first question. If Indiana’s star is healthy by April, the Pacers will be a far more competitive team than the depleted squad Cleveland dispatched in November. Cleveland needs a win to maintain their playoff seeding heading into the final week of the regular season.
Donovan Mitchell will look to close the regular season strong. He is Cleveland’s franchise player and will be motivated to perform well in a divisional game. Evan Mobley’s health and consistency will also be a factor — his ability to anchor Cleveland’s defense is crucial for their playoff prospects.
The most recent game was November 21, 2025, with the Cleveland Cavaliers winning 120–109 in an NBA Cup game at Rocket Arena. Tyrese Haliburton was inactive for Indiana.
The Indiana Pacers won the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals 4-1, eliminating the No. 1 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers and advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Haliburton averaged over 25 points and 9 assists per game. In the series-clinching Game 5, he scored 31 points on 10-of-15 shooting with 6 three-pointers, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds.
Mitchell averaged over 41 points through the first three games but suffered a left ankle injury in Game 3. He scored 35 points in the clinching Game 5 loss, shooting 8-of-25 from the field.
Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with his typical high-scoring performance. Bennedict Mathurin was Indiana’s top scorer in place of the inactive Tyrese Haliburton.
Indiana led the all-time regular-season series 111-104 entering the 2025-26 season, across more than 215 total meetings between the two franchises.
The next scheduled matchup is April 5, 2026 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. It is the final regular-season meeting between the two teams in 2025-26.
As of March 12, 2026, the Cleveland Cavaliers are 40-26, sitting second in the Central Division and solidly in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
The Indiana Pacers are 15-50 through March 12, 2026, last in the Central Division. Injuries early in the season, including extended absences by Tyrese Haliburton, have severely impacted their performance.
Tyrese Haliburton’s stepback buzzer three-pointer in Game 2 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals — made after rebounding his own missed free throw — is the defining shot of this modern rivalry and one of the most dramatic playoff moments of 2025.
Pacers vs Cleveland Cavaliers match player stats today in 2026 tell two very different stories running side by side. In the 2025-26 regular season, the Cavaliers have dominated a short-handed Indiana squad, winning the lone meeting 120-109 in November and sitting at 40-26 while the Pacers languish at 15-50.
But the deeper story — the one that will always hang over every Cleveland-Indiana tip-off — is the 2025 playoff upset. Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers walked into Rocket Arena as massive underdogs against a 64-win No. 1 seed and walked out as 4-1 series winners.
Mitchell was extraordinary, averaging over 40 points in the first three games, but injuries to Garland, Mobley, and Hunter and Haliburton’s transcendent clutch play ultimately decided the series.
With the April 5 rematch ahead, Cleveland will want revenge on paper. But history proves that when Haliburton is healthy, no lead or record is safe in this rivalry.