AN EVEN SERIES IN 22-23
After wrapping up a three-game homestand with an eventful victory over Memphis on Thursday night, the Wine and Gold hit the road for a back-to-back, beginning with a Sunday afternoon Central Division showdown with the Pacers.
The Cavaliers have struggled to regain their rhythm over the last couple weeks, alternating wins and losses over the last eight games – but they notched a quality victory on Thursday night, blowing past the Grizzlies in front of a frenzied crowd at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Dillon Brooks’ cheap shot on Donovan Mitchell got both players ejected midway through the third quarter. Cleveland stayed focused despite the fracas, outscoring the Grizzlies by 19 over the next 12 minutes of action to seal the deal.
The Pacers are coming off a nice win over the Kings on Friday night, but the victories have been hard to come by lately in Indiana, where Rick Carlisle’s club has dropped 11 of its last 13. In Friday’s decision, Buddy Hield and Myles Turner had big nights and the Pacers defensively held the Kings to just 43 percent shooting while forcing 19 miscues.
The last time these two faced off in Indiana, the Pacers notched a 135-126 win, snapping a five-game skid in the series and splitting the season set heading into Sunday’s affair. The Cavaliers host Indy at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on April 2.
ALL-STAR SHOWDOWN
Darius Garland’s performance on Thursday night informed the basketball world how he feels about not making the Eastern Conference All-Star squad.
Garland posted his second 30-point game in less than a week and third double-double in his last four outings – leading both teams with 32 points and 11 assists, going 11-for-19 from the floor, including 4-of-6 from deep and 6-of-6 from the stripe. All that while getting the W and outdueling Grizzlies All-Star Ja Morant.
Since returning from a thumb injury in early January, the 4th-year man from Vandy has been rock-solid, averaging 23.2ppg over that 15-game stretch, with four 30-point outings and seven double-doubles in the mix.
The last time Darius Garland visited Indiana, Garland finished with 18 points and eight assists. The time before that, he tallied 41 and 13.
He’ll face another All-Star on Sunday night if Tyrese Haliburton is able to go. Haliburton, who just returned to the lineup two games ago after missing the previous 10, was named to the Eastern Conference reserves on Thursday.
The 3rd-year man from Iowa State comes into Sunday’s contest as the NBA’s assists leader (10.2apg) while being 4th in steals 1.79apg). Haliburton finished with 26 points and 12 helpers in his return against the Lakers before cooling off a bit against his former team on Friday.
He’s been good against the Cavs through two games this season – averaging 23.0 points and 11.5 assists.
BENCH POINTS FOR THE WIN
If they accomplish nothing else this season, the Pacers at least know they hit the jackpot in their most recent draft, getting a solid starter in Andrew Nembhard and one of the most lethal reserves in the league in Bennedict Mathurin.
Mathurin, the 6th overall pick out of Arizona, will be in both Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year conversations when the year ends – starting just six games this year and averaging 17.6ppg, second-best on the squad.
So far this season, Mathurin has posted 19 games of 20-plus off the bench for Indy, including a pair of 30-point efforts. He’s gone for 22 and 23 off the bench in two games against Cleveland this year.
The Cavaliers don’t have a weapon like that off the bench on most nights, but Cedi Osman sure comes into Sunday’s matchup on something of a heater.
Actually, it’s been an odd week for the 6th-year man. Last Sunday, on Turkish Heritage Celebration Night at the arena, he erupted for a career-high-tying 29 points, going 7-for-7 from long-range in just 22 minutes of work. In the following game against Miami, he went scoreless in seven minutes off the bench. And in Thursday’s win over Memphis, he led all reserves with 21 points on 7-for-11 shooting.
Cedi also went 4-of-8 from beyond the arc on Thursday night, moving him into 5th place in franchise history with 587 triples made.