Pacers Fall Flat Early, Can’t Recover Against Cavs in 135-119 Loss
After back-to-back wins and a stretch of elite-level defense, the Indiana Pacers ran into a buzzsaw Monday night - and unfortunately, a lot of it was self-inflicted. Playing their third game in four nights and in front of a sparse, snow-thinned home crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Pacers came out flat against a hungry Cavaliers team and never fully recovered, falling 135-119.
Let’s be clear: the energy just wasn’t there from the jump. The Pacers gave up 15 quick points in the first quarter and spent the rest of the night chasing a game that had already gotten away from them.
Despite playing Cleveland evenly the rest of the way and making a few pushes in the second half, the damage was already done. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the game had drifted into garbage time.
That’s a tough pill to swallow, especially considering how strong Indiana’s defense had been in the five games leading up to this one. Head coach Rick Carlisle had praised the group’s defensive turnaround, but that edge was missing in this one - particularly on the glass.
The Cavs dominated the rebounding battle, finishing with a +12 advantage and pulling down 19 offensive boards. That’s not just a stat - that’s 19 extra possessions, 19 chances to reset the shot clock and wear down a defense that couldn’t finish plays.
And while the Pacers were lacking their usual spark, Cleveland brought plenty of their own. The Cavs came in motivated - still remembering their playoff exit at the hands of Indiana last spring - and they played like a team with something to prove.
Even without Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen, Cleveland went big with Dean Wade and Jaylon Tyson starting alongside Donovan Mitchell. That size gave Indiana problems, especially early.
Then there was Mitchell, who took matters into his own hands. The All-Star guard dropped 43 points and looked locked in from the opening tip, setting the tone for a Cavs team desperate to avoid a fourth straight loss. He got downhill, hit shots from deep, and had the Pacers defense scrambling all night.
On the Indiana side, Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard carried much of the load. Siakam posted 26 points and 7 rebounds in 30 minutes, while Nembhard added 21 points and 6 assists. But as the game slipped away in the second half, both saw their minutes dialed back - a clear signal that the coaching staff knew this one wasn’t turning around.
Bennedict Mathurin, who’s been a bright spot for Indiana this season, had a rough outing. He struggled to find rhythm offensively, often driving into traffic without a clear plan and failing to draw contact.
He finished with just 11 points on 9 shots, along with 3 turnovers. It was the kind of performance that reminded fans of his rookie-year growing pains - not the confident, downhill scorer we’ve seen this season.
Jarace Walker also had a tough night after being inserted into the starting lineup to help match Cleveland’s size. He managed 7 points on 8 shots but never quite found his footing on either end.
This was one of those games you circle, crumple up, and toss in the trash. The Pacers have shown they can defend at a high level and execute offensively when the energy is there. But Monday night was a reminder that in this league, especially with a young team, consistency is everything.
Now, it’s about how they respond.
The Pacers wrap up their homestand on Wednesday night against the Denver Nuggets, and while the defending champs are dealing with their own issues - including injuries to three key rotation players - they’ll still bring plenty of firepower. Denver has dropped three of their last five and will arrive in Indy looking to get back on track, just like Cleveland did.
Indiana, meanwhile, will need to bring back the defensive intensity and effort that fueled their recent wins - because against Nikola Jokic and company, anything less simply won’t cut it.
Pacers vs. Nuggets - Game Info
- When: Wednesday, December 3, 2025 - 7:00 p.m. ET
- Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
- TV: FanDuel Sports Network
- Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan
- Odds: Pacers +7.5
Projected Starters
Pacers: Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Jarace Walker, Pascal Siakam, Jay Huff
Nuggets: Jamal Murray, Peyton Watson, Spencer Jones, Cam Johnson, Nikola Jokic
Injury Report
Pacers:
- Johnny Furphy (ankle) - questionable
- Aaron Nesmith (knee) - out
- Quenton Jackson (hamstring) - out
- Obi Toppin (hamstring) - out
- Kam Jones (back) - out
- Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) - out
Nuggets:
- Aaron Gordon - out
- Two other rotation players - out
- Jamal Murray - questionable
The Pacers have shown they can compete with anyone when they're locked in. Wednesday night is a chance to prove it again - against the reigning champs, no less.