Cleveland Cavaliers vs Pacers Match Player Stats
Donovan Mitchell took over late. That’s the quick summary. But the cleveland cavaliers vs pacers match player stats from April 5, 2026, show a much deeper story—a sharp-shooting, short-handed Pacers team pushing Cleveland harder than anyone expected. The Cavs pulled out a 117-108 win at home, and honestly, the box score alone doesn’t do justice to how fierce this game was for three quarters.
Mitchell poured in 38 points. James Harden orchestrated everything perfectly. And yet Indiana, sitting its top five scorers, nearly stole the show. Let’s walk through every number that mattered, the matchups that turned the tide, and how this one played out minute by minute.
How the Scoring Flow Looked
This wasn’t a cruise-control win. The cleveland cavaliers vs pacers match player stats by quarter make it clear: Indiana came to play.
Quarter-wise Score
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Pacers | 32 | 26 | 33 | 17 | 108 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 31 | 24 | 35 | 27 | 117 |
A 12-point Pacers lead in the first half evaporated after the break. Cleveland found another gear and that 27-17 fourth quarter closed the door. Look at those numbers and you’ll spot where the Cavaliers’ depth simply wore Indiana down.
Cleveland Cavaliers Player Stats: The Guys Who Delivered
With Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, and Sam Merrill all sitting this one out, we knew the cleveland cavaliers vs pacers match player stats would lean heavily on the guards. They delivered big time.
Player Stats
| Player | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG | 3PT | FT | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donovan Mitchell | 33 | 38 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 16-27 | 1-6 | 5-6 | +8 |
| James Harden | 34 | 28 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 9-14 | 5-11 | 5-8 | +12 |
| Thomas Bryant | 28 | 14 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6-9 | 0-1 | 2-2 | +4 |
| Dennis Schröder | 26 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3-7 | 1-3 | 2-2 | +12 |
| Craig Porter Jr. | 19 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3-5 | 1-2 | 1-2 | +10 |
Stats sourced from Basketball-Reference and NBA.com’s official box score.
Mitchell scored 23 of his 38 after halftime. That’s just elite-level shot-making when the team needed it. Harden flirted with a triple-double, and his +12 tells you how much smoother the offense ran with him on the floor. Thomas Bryant, making his first start, gave them a rock-solid 14 and 10—huge when the star bigs are resting. Schröder and Craig Porter Jr. brought the defensive hustle that often gets overlooked in a box score.
Indiana Pacers Player Stats: Gutsy Performances Despite the Injuries
The Pacers’ side of the cleveland cavaliers vs pacers match player stats is wild. No Pascal Siakam. No Ben Sheppard. Five of their top scorers out. And they still put up 108 points.
Player Stats
| Player | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG | 3PT | FT | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obi Toppin | 23 | 21 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 4-10 | 3-7 | 10-10 | 0 |
| Micah Potter | 30 | 21 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6-10 | 3-5 | 6-8 | -8 |
| Jalen Slawson | 32 | 19 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7-11 | 5-7 | 0-0 | -2 |
| Quenton Jackson | 28 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 5-14 | 1-4 | 4-5 | +3 |
| Kobe Brown | 39 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3-10 | 3-7 | 2-2 | -16 |
Stats sourced from Basketball-Reference and LandofBasketball.com.
Obi Toppin attacked relentlessly and didn’t miss a single free throw. Micah Potter bullied his way to a 21-12 double-double before the break. Jalen Slawson, probably not a name many casual fans know, exploded for a career-high 19 points and canned five threes. Quenton Jackson and Kobe Brown filled the stat sheet admirably. This wasn’t a team rolling over; this was a team fighting tooth and nail.
Three Matchup Stories Hidden in the Numbers
Analyzing the cleveland cavaliers vs pacers match player stats reveals more than just who scored what. It shows specific duels that shaped everything.
Mitchell’s Second-Half Onslaught
He started fine, but the third and fourth quarters were his. The Pacers tossed multiple defenders at him, and it didn’t matter. That 16-of-27 shooting efficiency against a defense that had no safety net says it all.
Harden’s Control Versus Indiana’s Rotations
Harden only scored 28, but he controlled the pace. Seven assists, clever foul-drawing, and constant pressure forced Indiana’s defense into rotation mistakes. The Cavs were +12 with him out there—no other player matched that impact.
Bryant Stepping Into Big Shoes
With the usual centers out, Thomas Bryant faced a tough ask against Potter. He didn’t just survive; he produced a double-double on 66% shooting. That kept Cleveland from getting crushed on the glass and let Mitchell operate freely.
Team Stats Side by Side
The raw cleveland cavaliers vs pacers match player stats at the team level explain the win perfectly. It was a beatdown in the paint and a battle from deep.
Team Stats Comparison
| Category | Cleveland Cavaliers | Indiana Pacers |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 46.7% | 38.4% |
| 3-Point % | 34.0% | 38.6% |
| Free Throw % | 78.9% | 86.2% |
| Total Rebounds | 46 | 43 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 9 | 12 |
| Assists | 27 | 24 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 10 |
| Points in Paint | 54 | 24 |
| Fast Break Points | 11 | 9 |
Data via Fox Sports and NBA.com official match tracker.
See that 54-24 difference in paint scoring? That’s Cleveland’s guards driving and bigs cleaning up misses. Indiana shot better from three, but they couldn’t get stops inside. The Cavs also protected the ball slightly better, forcing one more turnover.
Season Impact and Sweep Talk
After this game, the cleveland cavaliers vs pacers match player stats tell a larger story. Cleveland swept the season series 4-0. They moved to 49-29, locking down a top playoff seed. The Pacers dropped to 18-60, struggling through a year wrecked by injuries. Historically, these teams have battled 219 times; Indiana still leads 111-108 all-time, but Cleveland is steadily chipping away.
The Moments That Turned the Game
When you dig into the cleveland cavaliers vs pacers match player stats, you can almost see the game tipping:
- Indiana raced out to a 58-55 halftime lead, draining eight threes and swinging the ball beautifully.
- Nae’Qwan Tomlin’s triple early in the fourth gave Cleveland a 99-96 lead, their first real cushion.
- A brutal 20-5 Cavaliers run over the next seven minutes ended all doubt. Indiana’s legs faded, and the shots stopped falling.
That closing stretch was Cleveland’s experience and conditioning overpowering a determined but depleted opponent.
FAQs About the Game
Q1: Who scored the most points in the Apr 5 Cavs vs Pacers game?
Donovan Mitchell, with 38 points. He shot over 59% from the floor and took total control in the second half.
Q2: Which Pacers player grabbed the most rebounds?
Micah Potter pulled down 12 rebounds to go with his 21 points. He was a problem inside all night long.
Q3: How did James Harden play?
Exceptionally well. 28 points, 7 assists, and the best plus-minus on the team at +12. He made everything click.
Q4: What was Cleveland’s biggest advantage statistically?
Points in the paint. They dominated 54-24. That’s a thirty-point gap right there, impossible for Indiana to overcome.
Q5: Why were so many Pacers starters out?
Injury wave. Pascal Siakam, Ben Sheppard, and others were all sidelined. Indiana played its deepest bench guys heavy minutes.
Q6: Did the Cavs sweep the season series?
Yes, they went 4-0 against Indiana this season, continuing their strong recent run in the matchup.
Wrapping Up the Night
These cleveland cavaliers vs pacers match player stats capture a game that was way closer than the final score suggests. Mitchell showed why he’s the guy come playoff time. Harden played the veteran maestro role to perfection. And a Pacers squad that could’ve packed it in fought until the last punch was thrown. If you’re a fan, a bettor, or just someone who loves basketball analytics, this one gave you plenty to chew on. Bookmark these numbers, because when these teams meet again with full rosters, the story will look very different.
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