Cavaliers vs Pacers Prediction, Odds & Game Preview 5/6/2025

After shocking the top-seeded Cavaliers with a 121-112 road win in Game 1, the Indiana Pacers look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead when they visit Cleveland at Rocket Arena on Tuesday night.

The Pacers' hot shooting (52.8% from three-point range) propelled them to victory in the opener, while Cleveland struggled mightily from deep, connecting on just 23.7% of their attempts despite dominating inside with 70 points in the paint.

Both teams face potential injury concerns heading into this pivotal matchup, with Cleveland monitoring the status of Darius Garland, De'Andre Hunter, and Evan Mobley—all listed as questionable for Game 2.

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Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers preview

The Pacers stunned the top-seeded Cavaliers with a 121-112 victory in Game 1, extending their 2024-25 dominance over Cleveland to four wins in five meetings this season.

Andrew Nembhard's breakout 23-point performance on 70% shooting led Indiana's balanced attack that saw five players score in double-figures while connecting on a blistering 53% from deep.

Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell poured in 33 points but struggled mightily from long range (1-of-11), reflecting his team's collective 24% three-point shooting that ultimately doomed their chances despite dominating inside with 70 paint points.

The Cavaliers now find themselves in unfamiliar territory at Rocket Arena—having to defend home court after squandering their series opener—with injured starters Darius Garland, De'Andre Hunter, and Evan Mobley all questionable for Tuesday's pivotal Game 2.

While Cleveland boasted the NBA's top offense during the regular season (123.5 PPG), Indiana's uptempo attack has consistently given the Cavaliers fits, with the teams trending toward high-scoring affairs as they've eclipsed the total in three of their last four meetings.

Key stats

1

The Cavaliers sit atop the Eastern Conference with a 64-18 record, establishing themselves as the dominant force in the East

2

Indiana holds the 4th position in the Eastern Conference with a 50-32 record, showing they're a legitimate playoff contender

3

Cleveland has the league's best offensive output, scoring 9,999 points this season while maintaining a strong defensive presence

4

The Pacers enter this matchup in excellent form, winning 4 of their last 5 games (WLWWW), while Cleveland has alternated wins and losses (LWLWL)

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