On Thursday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for a road matchup with the Indiana Pacers. The Cavaliers fell 125-117 to the Brooklyn Nets in their prior game. The Pacers won 129-114 against the Atlanta Hawks. The tip-off is slated for 7:10 PM ET. Cleveland opens as a road favorite.

Cavaliers Fall at Home
The Cavaliers played a red-hot Brooklyn Nets team at home three days ago and fell 125-117. Darius Garland shined with 46 points but was ultimately outdueled by Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Garland finished 14 of 20 from the field and added eight assists with just one turnover in 40 minutes. Donovan Mitchell added just 15 points. He came in averaging nearly 27 per game and struggled for most of the night. He went 5 of 16 shooting while being guarded primarily by Ben Simmons. ”They came out and punched first,” Mitchell said after the loss to Associated Press reporters. ”They have some of the best shooters in the league. I have to be better. We have to be better, and we will.”
Cleveland was only down 12 entering the fourth before Kyrie Irving scored eight quick points. Garland and the Cavs rallied to pull within four late but they could not close it out. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff said Ricky Rubio (knee) will not return before the end of the calendar year, but the 32-year-old remains on track to rejoin the team in 2023. He will begin ramping up sometime next week.

Pacers Trounce Hawks at Home
The Pacers led for most of the game as they paced the Atlanta Hawks 129-114 at home in their last game. Buddy Hield made six 3-pointers on his way to 28 points and Tyrese Haliburton had 23 points and seven assists. Hield hit 11 of 16 shots, including 6 of 7 from beyond the arc. He leads the NBA with 132 triples this season. ”I stay more in the gym,” Hield said of his shooting preparation after the win. ”It gets to the point where my family gets mad at me, that I overwork. But when you love the game so much, that’s all you think about, just trying hard to get ready each and every day.”
Indiana enjoyed a 52-20 advantage in bench points. Benedict Mathurin had 18 points, and fellow reserve Oshae Brissett finished with 16. After scoring a season-low 38 points in the first half at New Orleans, they got to a hot start and scored 64 in the first half. Indiana was expected to undergo a rebuilding year, but they come into this game a game above .500 and playing some high-quality basketball under coach Rick Carlisle.