Mission accomplished for the Cavaliers, who reject Indiana and get back up after the home defeat against Houston. The Pacers are tougher than expected, but Cleveland manages with maturity: in the first half it relies on the Garland-Mobley tandem, then leaves it to Donovan Mitchell to close the score after the break with 20 of his 32 points. It is the response of a group that was able to change gear at the right time. Andrew Nembhard multiplies his plays at the start to keep Indiana in touch (33-31), while the Bennedict Mathurin-Pascal Siakam duo holds out until the break despite Darius Garland‘s outburst: 18 of his 20 points come in the first half and certify his recovery. The Cavs’ director signs the last break of the second quarter with a triple that makes it +7 at halftime, 62-55, and directs the momentum.
As often happens, the third period is Donovan Mitchell’s stage: the All-Star scores baskets in series, 13 in the quarter alone, and distributes assists for Dean Wade and for Evan Mobley’s 2+1, pushing Cleveland up to 100-81. Indiana, however, doesn’t give up and scores a 14-0 run to get back to 103-95, reigniting the game and forcing the Cavs to make a new effort at control. The reply is immediate: two baskets from De’Andre Hunter break the Pacers’ wave, Mitchell hits a three for the last time and is imitated by Evan Mobley and again by Hunter to seal the final 120-109. Cleveland finishes with its usual balance: playmaking and perimeter in the first half, explosiveness and readings in the second, while Indiana finds confirmation in the growth of Nembhard and the solidity of Siakam–Mathurin.