Friday, Oct. 20 at 7:00 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Indiana Pacers Media Availability | October 19, 2023
Game Preview
One last tune-up game remains for the Indiana Pacers before the 2023-2024 regular season tips off, as the Blue & Gold conclude exhibition play Friday when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Indiana enters its final preseason game riding a 116-12 Monday victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
Against Atlanta, Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton returned to the hardwood after sitting out the first two preseason contests. Haliburton had an active summer, playing for Team USA in the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Haliburton’s presence made an immediate impact, as the Pacers climbed to a 27-point halftime lead after the Blue & Gold dropped 43 points in the second quarter. From there, the team never looked back. Haliburton finished with 15 points and eight assists in just over 23 minutes of play, while Aaron Nesmith (15 points), Myles Turner (13 points), and Buddy Hield (11 points) all also finished in double-digit scoring.
With Haliburton returning to the starting five, T.J. McConnell returned to the bench. First-year Pacers Bruce Brown and Obi Toppin, second-year guard Bennedict Mathurin, and veteran center Myles Turner completed the first unit.
While Indiana and Atlanta each shot 48 percent overall, the Pacers made 18 3-pointers to the Hawks’ 12 treys and had 12 turnovers to the visitors’ 17 giveaways. Fourteen different players logged minutes for the Pacers.
The Pacers will likely have second-year guard Andrew Nembhard make his preseason debut on Friday, who is set to return after missing time due to a kidney stone.
Cleveland enters their final preseason game without a win against an NBA team. In a 108-105 loss to the Orlando Magic on Thursday, the Cavs trailed by 12 at halftime and couldn’t complete a late comeback despite posting 29 points in the final frame.
Cavs All-Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell logged 29 minutes in the game, finishing with nine points, four rebounds and three assists, while speedy point guard Darius Garland led the team with 19 points.
The Cavaliers did win against Maccabi Ra'anana of the Israeli National League in their third preseason game on Monday.
Last regular season, Cleveland finished 3-1 against the Pacers, but each game was decided by seven or fewer points.
For the Pacers, Haliburton averaged 20.3 points, 11.3 assists and two rebounds against the Cavs in three games played, Mathurin averaged 18.3 points and 5.3 rebounds.
Mitchell proved a handful for the Pacers last season, averaging 32 points, 4.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals over the four games. Garland also gave the Pacers difficulties, averaging 20.5 points, 7.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds versus the Blue & Gold.
The Cavs are anchored by 6-foot-9 forward Jarrett Allen and 6-11 center Evan Mobley in the frontcourt, which helped the team establish the No. 1 defensive rating in the NBA last season at 109.9 by giving up a league-best 106.88 points per game.
In the offseason, the Cavs notably added shooting guard Max Strus and small forward Georges Niang, and drafted Eastern Michigan’s Emoni Bates with the 49th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
After hosting the Cavs, the Pacers will have four days rest before opening their season – for the second straight year – at home against the Washington Wizards on Oct. 25.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G - Tyrese Haliburton, G - Bruce Brown, F - Bennedict Mathurin, F - Obi Toppin, C - Myles Turner
Cavaliers: G - Darius Garland, G - Donovan Mitchell , F - Damian Jones, F - Max Strug, C - Evan Mobley
Injury Report
Pacers: TBA
Cavaliers: TBA
Last Meeting
April 2, 2023: Behind a 40-point effort from Donovan Mitchell, the Cavs defeated the Pacers 115-105 at Rocket Mortgage Arena. With the loss, the Blue & Gold were officially eliminated from postseason contention.
The two teams went blow-for-blow through the first three quarters, with neither team leading by more than two points after each quarter, before the Cavs held the Pacers to just 18 points – forcing eight turnovers – in the final frame to come out with the win.
Bennedict Mathurin topped the Pacers with 19 points to go along with nine rebounds, and Jordan Nwora secured a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double. Off the bench, T.J. McConnell.
Also for the Cavs, Darius Garland added 20 points and six assists and center Evan Mobley tallied 14 points while collecting 16 rebounds.
Both teams shot 9-for-24 from 3-point range (37.5 percent), but the Cavs shot 48.9 percent from the field overall, while the Pacers made 43.4 percent of their attempts.
Noteworthy
- Former Pacers forward Caris LeVert is entering his second full (third overall) season with the Cavs since being traded in February 2022 from Indiana. One of the picks the Pacers acquired in the trade turned into this year’s 26th overall pick (Belmont's Ben Sheppard).
- Tyrese Haliburton and Georges Niang both played college basketball at Iowa State. While the two are good friends, they were never on the same Cyclones team.
- Darius Garland is a Gary, Ind. native.
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: Bally Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)
Tickets
The Pacers tip off the 2023-24 regular season on Opening Night presented by Kroger against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 7:00 PM ET. Secure your seats today. Find Tickets >>