Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers
· National Basketball Association
Cavaliers rally late for 120-116 win while handing the Pacers a franchise-record 13th straight loss
Indiana, the defending Eastern Conference champs, lost its 13th straight to set a franchise record in its NBA era. The Pacers are now a league-worst 6-31 and are one loss away from matching the Washington Wizards' 14-game skid for the league's longest skid this season.
The Cavs weren't even at full strength in this one.
Coach Kenny Atkinson gave All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell a day off just hours after team officials announced Max Strus was expected to miss at least another month because of a left foot injury. Atkinson said that the updated timeline was not because Strus had suffered a setback. Cleveland also lost forward Dean Wade in the first half with a bruised left knee.
And yet, Cleveland managed to erase the nine-point deficit they faced entering the fourth quarter. Evan Mobley had 20 points while Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill each scored 19. Merrill went 6 of 10 on 3-pointers.
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 22 points and Jay Huff tied his season high with 20 points, going 7 of 10 from the field wand 4 of 7 on 3s. Andrew Nembhard had 15 points and 11 assists. Indiana played without center Isaiah Jackson, swingman Bennedict Mathurin, forward Obi Toppin and All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton because of injuries.
Indiana still had a chance to force overtime in the waning seconds, but couldn't tie the score as the game turned into a free-throw contest.
The loss also delayed coach Rick Carlisle's 1,000th win for yet two more days.
Pacers: Travel to Charlotte on Thursday.
Regular Season Series
CLE leads series 3-0
Recent Plays
| 4th 0.0 |  |
End of Game | 120 - 116 |
| 4th 0.0 | |
End of the 4th Quarter | 120 - 116 |
| 4th 2.2 |  |
Andrew Nembhard bad pass turnover (Evan Mobley steals) | 120 - 116 |
| 4th 2.8 |  |
Jarrett Allen makes free throw 2 of 2 | 120 - 116 |
| 4th 2.8 | |
Jarrett Allen makes free throw 1 of 2 | 119 - 116 |
Statistics
 CLE |
 IND |
|
|---|---|---|
| 49-88 | FG | 43-93 |
| 56 | Field Goal % | 46 |
| 10-26 | 3PT | 16-35 |
| 38 | Three Point % | 46 |
| 12-18 | FT | 14-19 |
| 67 | Free Throw % | 74 |
| 48 | Rebounds | 32 |
| 10 | Offensive Rebounds | 7 |
| 38 | Defensive Rebounds | 25 |
| 33 | Assists | 32 |
| 7 | Steals | 10 |
| 6 | Blocks | 4 |
| 19 | Turnovers | 11 |
| 0 | Team Turnovers | 3 |
| 19 | Total Turnovers | 14 |
| 0 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 21 | Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 12 |
| 12 | Fast Break Points | 9 |
| 64 | Points in Paint | 42 |
| 23 | Fouls | 14 |
| 7 | Largest Lead | 9 |
| 8 | Lead Changes | 8 |
| 20 | Percent Led | 77 |
Indiana Pacers Injuries
| NAME, POS | STATUS | DATE |
|---|---|---|
| Pascal Siakam, F | Out | Feb 24 |
| Aaron Nesmith, G | Out | Feb 22 |
| Obi Toppin, F | Out | Feb 17 |
| Ivica Zubac, C | Out | Feb 17 |
| Johnny Furphy, G | Out | Feb 9 |
Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries
| NAME, POS | STATUS | DATE |
|---|---|---|
| Max Strus, G | Out | Feb 18 |
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