Cavs Fight Back, Beat Pacers on Sunday

With just a week remaining in the regular season, the Wine & Gold proved once again that when they turn up their defensive intensity late, they’re an extremely tough team to beat. 

After going toe-to-toe with the Pacers through three quarters, the Cavaliers clamped down in the fourth – holding Indiana to 18 points on 35 percent shooting in the final period and pulling away late for the 115-105 win on Sunday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. 

As good as the Cavs were defensively in the final quarter, their leading scorer was excellent once again for all four – with Donovan Mitchell making franchise history, recording his 3^rd straight 40-point performance, 12^th of the season, finishing with an even 40 – going 14-for-25 from the floor, including 3-of-9 from deep and 9-for-12 from the stripe, adding six boards and three steals in the win. 

The Cavs trailed to start the fourth quarter and led by just a point with eight minutes to play. But the Cavaliers squeezed the life out of Indy over the closing minutes – forcing five Pacers turnovers in the game’s final five minutes while not allowing a single made three-pointer in the period. 

Evan Mobley continues to make his late case for Defensive Player of the Year and was once again outstanding on both ends of the floor – doubling-up with 14 points and a game-high 16 rebounds, adding four assists and leading both squads with four blocks. 

After missing the previous two games, Jarrett Allen returned to the lineup and his presence was significant – netting 15 points and seven boards, going 6-of-9 from the floor and grabbing four of his rebounds off the offensive glass. 

Darius Garland chipped in with 20 points, going 8-for-20 from the floor, including 2-of-3 from deep, leading Cleveland with six assists to go with a pair of steals. 

Caris LeVert was also stellar on both ends of the floor in Sunday’s win – finishing with 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting, adding three boards and four assists while swatting three Pacers offerings in 33 action-packed minutes off the bench. 

The Pacers featured seven players – including three reserves – in double-figures, led by rookie Bennedict Mathurin, who finished with 19 points on 5-of-12 shooting. Jordan Nwora doubled-up for Indy with 15 points and a team-high 10 rebounds.

After a tight three-and-a-half quarters of basketball, the Cavaliers outmuscled Indiana down the stretch. 

Through the first three quarters, there were eight ties and 13 lead-changes, with neither team leading by more than 11 points along the way. But the Wine & Gold took charge over the final five minutes of regulation. 

Leading by four points midway though the final period, Caris LeVert took over on the defensive end and jumpstarted Cleveland’s offense as well – helping key a 16-6 run that put the Cavaliers up two touchdowns with 1:15 to play on an Evan Mobley dunk.

22 … shots that Evan Mobley has blocked over his last seven games. During that stretch, the soft-spoken sophomore has four games with four blocks and two more with three. 

On the season, Mobley now has 33 games of multiple blocked shots – with eight games of at least four rejections, including a career-best eight-block performance earlier this season in Detroit.

Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff, on his team’s ability to turn it up in the fourth quarter …

“It’s the confidence they have in each other. It’s the confidence they have in their ability as a group. And the will and the determination to take those challenges. So, it says a lot of about their commitment to each other, what they want to do for one another and how they support each other.”

Following Sunday night’s victory over the Pacers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the Wine & Gold are down to the final three games of the regular season – beginning with a two-game set in Orlando against Paolo Banchero and the Magic on Tuesday and Thursday nights. 

Cleveland wraps up the 2022-23 campaign on Easter Sunday – welcoming the Hornets to town for Fan Appreciation Night.