Game Rewind: Pacers 109, Cavaliers 104 (Preseason)

Friday, Oct. 20 at 7:00 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse

With the final rehearsal run behind them, the Indiana Pacers are riding positive momentum heading into next Wednesday’s season opener.

Concluding preseason play Friday, the Pacers defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-104 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. On Oct. 25, the Pacers will host the Washington Wizards to commence the 2023-24 regular season.

Indiana held a five-point lead at halftime, led by a trio of points after three quarters, and outscored the visitors' reserves 26-24 in the final frame to come away with the win. The Blue & Gold finish preseason play 2-2.

First-year Pacers Obi Toppin and Bruce Brown looked right at home against the Cavs, accounting for 26 points and 14 rebounds. Toppin totaled 17 points (6-for-9 FG) and nine rebounds in 26 minutes, and Brown finished with nine points (3-for-6 3-point) and five boards in 23 minutes.

Pacers sharpshooter Buddy Hield drilled six 3-pointers to lead the Blue & Gold with 20 points, and All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton was solid as ever, registering 14 points, nine assists and four rebounds.

Cavs All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell led the visitors with 28 points (11-for-21 shooting), including scoring 19 in the third quarter, across 28 minutes. Center Evan Mobley had 18 points and eight rebounds.

"We’ve got a lot of work to do, but we have a great group of guys,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlislse said. “They care about each other. I like the way we’re competing. We’re just going to keep working on it.”

In the first half, Toppin had 13 points on 5 of 7 shooting while Brown trained a trio of 3-pointers for nine points to help the Pacers to a 56-51 lead.

Off the tip, the newest Pacers fired the crowd up as Toppin threw down a lob from Brown on the game's first possession.

Despite the quick points, neither team could get more than two points ahead through the first four minutes of action, as each side shot 2-for-8 to start.

Another high-flying finish by Toppin got the Pacers offense finally rolling, as second-year guard Bennedict Mathurin grabbed the ball near Indiana’s own 3-point arc and fired an outlet pass to the forward, who then went between the legs for a thunderous breakaway dunk to put the Blue & Gold up 12-7 with 6:46 left in the first quarter. On the next possession, Brown drained a 3-pointer to extend the lead.

“I’m the type of person who is going to be a little flashy, if I can, on dunks,” Toppin said. “It’s like an energy-booster for the fans and our bench. Something little like that can put juice into our team, and just help us get better. It’s just the way I play.” 

The Cavs answered in the final 2:49 of the opening frame, finishing on a 12-5 run to tie the game at 26. Hield drained a wide-open 3-pointer from the top-right corner of the arc at the buzzer to keep it knotted.

To start the second quarter, the Cavs went on a 13-2 scoring spree – behind 3-pointers from Caris Lavert and Georges Niang and an and-one from Isaac Okoro – to go up 39-28 with 9:13 left in the half.

Indiana then made a group substitution, putting the starting lineup back on the floor, and Brown and Mathurin drilled back-to-back 3-pointers to narrow it to 39-34.

From 6:45 to 3:38 in the second quarter, the Pacers went on a 12-2 run, behind five points from Toppin and a trey by Brown – to retake the lead at 46-43.

The game stayed within three points for much of the remaining time in the half, but a four-point play by Hield and free throws by Haliburton in the final 66 seconds helped keep the Pacers ahead by five.

In the third quarter, Mitchell could hardly miss, going 8-for-11 from the floor (2-for-3 3-point) for 19 of the Cavs’ 29 points. At one point in the third, Mitchell had scored 17 straight for the visitors.

Out of the break, the teams traded baskets three times before Mitchell scored eight straight points for the Cavs – six of which came off an and-one and a 3-pointer – to give the Cavs the lead back at 70-68 with 4:45 left in the third quarter.

In the final 1:15 of the third frame, the Pacers closed the quarter on an 8-2 run to take an 83-80 advantage into the last 12 minutes.

Neither team’s starting lineup made it to the floor in the fourth quarter, but the Pacers reserves – led by nine fourth-quarter points from second-year guard Andrew Nembhard – came out on top.

Both squads went on mini runs to start the fourth quarter until the Cavs tied the game at 92 with 8:37 left on free throws by Ty Jerome.

A 7-0 self-imposed run by Nembhard gave the Blue & Gold a 100-94 lead with 5:28 remaining. Down the final stretch, the Pacers never trailed.

Nembhard, who played in 75 games last season (starting 63), made his preseason debut Friday after missing the first three games due to a kidney stone.

“I definitely wanted to let the game come to me,” Nembhard said. “I didn’t want to go out and just try to assert myself too aggressively. I just wanted to let it come to me naturally.”

The Pacers finished 37-of-94 (13-for-34 from 3-point range) from the floor, and the Cavs went 39-for-92 (11-for-35 from 3-point range).

Indiana and Cleveland will see each other again next week. After Indiana hosts the Wizards on Wednesday, the Pacers will travel to the Cavs on Oct. 28 for their first road game of the season.

Indiana won the rebounding margin 54-38.

Cleveland outscored Indiana in the paint 54-42.

From the free throw line, the Pacers shot 22-for-28 and the Cavs went 15-for-20.

Indiana had 22 turnovers to the Cavs’ 19 giveaways.

In his first game this preseason, Nembhard registered 13 points in 23 minutes.

15 different players took the floor for the Cavs and 14 played for the Pacers.

“I’m just working every day to improve defensively, offensively, anything that I can do to stay on the floor and help the team win. I’m going to continue working.” – Toppin on his game

“I feel like everyone’s connection with Ty (Haliburton) is going to be good because he’s such a great player. He’s going to put people in positions to be successful. He’s going to make sure everybody's doing their job and exactly where they need to be on the court at all times. He does a great job with that.”  – Toppin on Haliburton

“We're so good off the court together with each other. We're hanging out, we're doing things together. When we get on the court, it's just natural. We know each other in and out. The more time we spend with each other the better the connection is going to be. The more we play together, the better the connection is going to be.” – Toppin on working with the starting unit

“Just how fast they’re learning and just what great guys they are. They come into the gym every day and work with a smile on their face. They’re fun to be around and they fit into what we’re trying to build as a culture really well, so I love those guys.” – Nembhard on the rookies

“Playmaking is a premium in the NBA. If you get two playmakers on the floor like that, that level of competitor, some good things can happen.” - Rick Carlisle on playing Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell together with the second unit

“The nine rebounds are terrific. We’ve challenged him to be a better rebounder, to work on his defense. On just about every off day he’s been looking at clips and getting on the floor and working. He’s a worker. He did a lot of good things tonight.” – Carlisle on Toppin

“Cleveland is a great defensive team – top five (defensively) in the league -- and they’re also among the best in forcing turnovers.” – Carlisle on the Cavs

“We’ve got to create space on the floor and use it. A lot of our problems happened when they were in an all-out switching defense to start the game and they locked us up some. We will have to do a better job against that kind of defense.” – Carlisle on the 22 turnovers

Obi Toppin, in his fourth game as a Pacer, recorded preseason highs in points (17) and rebounds (9).

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 >>