On Tuesday January 14th, at 7pm eastern time, the 33-5 Cleveland Cavaliers traveled to Indianapolis Indiana to play the 21-18 Indiana Pacers at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Last Sunday the Cavaliers lost to the Pacers in Cleveland at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse 108-93. It was only the 5th loss of the season for the Cavaliers. Emoni Bates was out for the Cavaliers and Ty Jerome was listed as doubtful with an illness. They both missed last Sunday’s game too. The Pacers were without Isaiah Jackson, Aaron Nesmith, and James Wiseman. Tyrese Haliburton was doubtful with a hamstring injury. The Cavaliers were trying to bounce back from their disappointing loss last Sunday to this same team.

To start the game both teams came out scoring, and after one quarter of play the Cavaliers led the Pacers 37-30. In the second quarter the Pacers fought back and outscored the Cavaliers 31-25. However, the Cavaliers led the Pacers at halftime 62-61. In the third quarter the Cavaliers outscored the Pacers by ten points and led going into the fourth quarter 100-89. In the fourth quarter the Cavaliers were able to keep up the pace and win their 34th game of the season 127-117.

The Cavaliers’ leading scorer was Donovan Mitchell with 35 points in 33 minutes. Evan Mobley had a double-double with 22 points and 13 rebounds in 33 minutes of play. This was a great bounce back win for this Cavaliers team to start this road trip. Up next for the 34-5 Cleveland Cavaliers is a trip to Oklahoma City on Thursday January 16th, 2025, 7:30 pm eastern time, to play the Thunder at the Paycom Center. This game will be a rematch of the best teams in the Eastern and Western Conferences and a potential preview of the 2025 NBA Finals. Let’s hope the Cavaliers can repeat the same result. They have been doing that all season.